Practice Test GeeksVA Notary - Virginia Notary Exam Practice Test
← All VA NOTARY Flashcard Decks

Notary Journals and Record Keeping Flashcards

6 cards from real VA NOTARY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Notary Journals and Record Keeping flashcards as text

  1. Is a Virginia notary required by law to maintain a notary journal?

    Answer: No, but it is strongly recommended as a best practice

    Virginia law does not mandate a notary journal for traditional notarizations, but it is highly recommended.

  2. Which format is recommended for a Virginia notary's paper journal?

    Answer: A bound book with pre-numbered pages that cannot be altered

    A bound journal with pre-numbered pages is recommended because it reduces the risk of tampering or removal of entries.

  3. What information should a Virginia notary record in their journal for each act?

    Answer: Date, type of act, document type, signer name, and form of ID used

    Best practice journal entries include the date, type of notarial act, document description, signer name, and identification method used.

  4. How long should a Virginia notary retain their journal after their commission expires?

    Answer: 5 years

    Best practice recommends retaining notary journals for at least 5 years after the commission expires or the journal is completed.

  5. If a Virginia notary's journal is lost or stolen, they should:

    Answer: Report it to law enforcement and notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth

    A lost or stolen journal should be reported to law enforcement and the Secretary of the Commonwealth to protect against misuse.

  6. A notary journal primarily protects the notary by:

    Answer: Providing a contemporaneous record that can defend against false claims of improper notarization

    A journal provides documentary evidence of the circumstances of each notarization, protecting the notary if their conduct is questioned.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. law.lis.virginia.gov — Eligibility · verified Oct 2026
  2. commonwealth.virginia.gov — Fees, renewal, score validity, eligibility, exam information · verified Oct 2026