TX NNJE Journal Requirements & Basics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Texas law, which notaries are required to maintain a notary journal?
- All Texas notaries public
- Only electronic notaries (Correct answer)
- Only notaries who perform more than 50 acts per year
- Only notaries handling real estate documents
Correct answer: Only electronic notaries
Texas law requires only electronic notaries (eNotaries) to maintain a journal; traditional notaries are encouraged but not mandated to keep one.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a Texas notary journal?
- To record notary fees collected
- To create a chronological record of all notarial acts performed (Correct answer)
- To store copies of all notarized documents
- To track client contact information
Correct answer: To create a chronological record of all notarial acts performed
The notary journal serves as a chronological record of every notarial act, providing an auditable trail for each transaction.
Question 3: How long must a Texas electronic notary retain journal records after the last act recorded?
- 1 year
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 7 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
Texas law requires electronic notaries to retain their journal for at least 5 years after the date of the last act recorded.
Question 4: Which organization created the National Notary Journal Entry (NNJE) standard that the TX NNJE exam is based on?
- Texas Secretary of State
- National Notary Association (NNA) (Correct answer)
- American Bar Association
- Texas Department of Licensing
Correct answer: National Notary Association (NNA)
The National Notary Association developed the NNJE standard to promote consistent, best-practice journal record keeping among notaries.
Question 5: In a Texas notary journal, entries must be recorded in what order?
- Alphabetically by signer name
- Chronologically as acts occur (Correct answer)
- By document type
- By fee amount
Correct answer: Chronologically as acts occur
Journal entries must be recorded chronologically so the journal reflects the exact sequence in which notarial acts were performed.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a recommended component of a Texas notary journal entry?
- Date and time of the act
- Type of notarial act performed
- Signer's Social Security Number (Correct answer)
- Identification method used
Correct answer: Signer's Social Security Number
A notary should never record a signer's Social Security Number in the journal, as this creates unnecessary privacy and security risks.
TX NNJE Journal Requirements & Basics 1
Under Texas law, which notaries are required to maintain a notary journal?