Notary Journal and Record Keeping Flashcards

What should a Wisconsin notary do with their journal if they resign or their commission is not renewed?

Answer: Retain and secure it for the recommended retention period

Even after a commission ends, the notary should keep their journal for the recommended retention period in case a past notarization is questioned.

Should a Wisconsin notary record the fee charged for a notarial act in their journal?

Answer: Yes, recording the fee is recommended practice

Recording fees is a recommended journal practice in Wisconsin to document compliance with fee limits and support accountability.

In Wisconsin, should a notary make a journal entry for each individual document notarized in a multi-document signing?

Answer: Yes, each separate notarial act should have its own entry

Best practice is to record each notarial act separately, even if multiple documents are notarized in a single session for the same person.

Can a Wisconsin notary's journal be subpoenaed as evidence in a court proceeding?

Answer: Yes, a journal can be subpoenaed by a court

A notary's journal is not protected by privilege and can be subpoenaed as evidence in legal proceedings.

What should a Wisconsin notary write in their journal if a signer refused to complete the notarization?

Answer: Note the attempted act, the signer's name, and the reason for refusal if known

Documenting attempted but incomplete notarizations protects the notary from later claims that the act was improperly performed.

Should Wisconsin notaries keep a separate journal for remote online notarizations?

Answer: A separate electronic journal is recommended for remote acts

For remote online notarizations, an electronic journal specifically designed for those acts is recommended alongside the required audio-visual recording.