Managing Notary Public Journals
How Long Do Notary Public Journals Needs to Be Kept?
Agency retention requirements only apply to journals documenting notarial acts performed with the scope of agency employment.
10 Years After Last Notarial Act Chronicled in Journal (Non-Archival)
Notary Public Journals (DAN GS 18012 / GS2024-017)
Sources: State Government General Records Retention Schedule / Local Government Common Records Retention Schedule (CORE)
Notary Public Journals (DAN GS 18012 / GS2024-017)
Sources: State Government General Records Retention Schedule / Local Government Common Records Retention Schedule (CORE)
Strategies for When Notary Public Employee Leaves the Agency
Notary Publics need to take their journals with them when they leave the agency.
Here is a suggested strategy for agencies to use:
- Make a copy of the journal.
- Redact any non-employment related notarial acts from the copy.
- Retain the redacted copy of the journal.
- The departing employee retains the original (unredacted) journal.
Last Updated: October 2026