WV Notary Notary Journal and Record Keeping

Question 1

What information must be recorded in a West Virginia notary's journal for each notarial act?

Accepted Answer

Date, type of act, signer's name, ID type used, document type, and fees charged

Answer

Only the signer's name and date

Answer

Only documents involving real estate

Answer

No journal is required

Question 2

How long must a notary retain their journal records?

Accepted Answer

For the period specified by state law, typically 7-10 years after the last entry

Answer

Only during the current commission term

Answer

30 days after each notarization

Answer

No retention requirement exists

Question 3

What should a notary do with their journal when their commission ends?

Accepted Answer

Follow state law regarding storage, transfer to the state, or destruction

Answer

Discard it immediately

Answer

Give it to the next notary who takes their position

Answer

Post it publicly for transparency

Question 4

Can a member of the public request to inspect a notary's journal?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes, the journal is a public record that may be inspected under state law

Answer

No, the journal is completely private

Answer

Only law enforcement can view it

Answer

Only the original signers can view their own entries

Question 5

What should a notary do if their journal is lost or stolen?

Accepted Answer

Notify the appropriate state authority immediately and file a report

Answer

Do nothing until their commission renewal

Answer

Start a new journal with no notification

Answer

Post a notice in the local newspaper

Question 6

Must a notary include a thumbprint in their journal?

Accepted Answer

Only if required by state law; some states mandate it for certain documents

Answer

Yes, all states require thumbprints

Answer

No state requires thumbprints

Answer

Only for international documents