| State |
Recordbook/Journal Requirement |
| Alabama |
Required
NOTE- In case of the death, resignation, removal or expiration of commission, the recordbook must be delivered to the judge of probate, within 30 days. |
| Alaska |
Not Required |
| Arizona |
Required
NOTE- All records must be kept for 5 years from the date of notarization. Recordbooks must be mailed to the County Recorder's Office within 90 days of revocation, resignation, or expiration of commission. |
| Arkansas |
Not Required |
| California |
Required
NOTE- Within 30 days from the date the notary commission expired (and is non-renewed), the notary must deliver all recordbooks, and papers to the county clerk’s office where the notary filed his/her oath of office. |
| Colorado |
Required (see note below)
NOTE- Colorado law only requires notaries public to keep a journal entry of every acknowledgement taken on an instrument affecting the title to real property. Every notary is encouraged to keep a journal entry of every act. |
| Connecticut |
Not Required |
| Delaware |
Not Required |
| District of Columbia |
Required
NOTE- The recordbook is the property of the notary and no one else. Upon the death, resignation, or removal from office of any notary public, the journal of notarial acts, together with all official papers, shall be deposited in the Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. |
| Florida |
Not Required |
| Georgia |
Not Required |
| Hawaii |
Required
NOTE - Recordbook must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court upon resignation, death, expiration of each term of office, or removal from office within 90 days. Upon the death of a notary, the notary's employer or personal representative must deliver the notary's recordbook. |
| Idaho |
Not Required |
| Illinois |
Not Required |
| Indiana |
Not Required |
| Iowa |
Not Required |
| Kansas |
Not Required |
| Kentucky |
Not Required (see note below)
NOTE - All protests made by a notary for the non-acceptance or nonpayment of all bills of exchange, checks or promissory notes MUST be recorded in a well bound journal. Upon the resignation or expiration of the notary commission the record book should be turned in to the office of the county clerk in the county in which the notary was appointed. |
| Louisiana |
Not Required |
| Maine |
Not Required (see note below)
NOTE - Notaries that perform any marriage ceremonies must keep a record of the transaction. |
| Maryland |
Required
NOTE - Recordbook is ONLY the property of the notary and should be retained for at least 5 years after the expiration, resignation or revocation of commission. |
| Massachusetts |
Required
NOTE - The Recordbook is the property of the notary and no one else. A notary shall only have one active journal. The notary shall keep the journal and any other records for seven years after expiration of commission. |
| Michigan |
Required
NOTE- A notary must maintain records of all notarial acts for at least 5 years. |
| Minnesota |
Not Required (see note below)
NOTE- The Secretary of State highly recommends the use of a recordbook although it is not required. If one is used it must be deposited with the court administrator of the district court of the notary's county upon resignation, death or removal of office. |
| Mississippi |
Required
NOTE- The recordbook is the property of ONLY the notary. Every notary may only have one active recordbook at a time. Social security or credit card numbers may NOT be recorded in the recordbook. |
| Missouri |
Required
NOTE- The recordbook must be permanently bound and contain numbered pages. |
| Montana |
Not Required |
| Nebraska |
Not Required |
| Nevada |
Required
NOTE - The recordbook is the property of ONLY the notary and must be retained for 7 years after the date on which he/she ceases to be a notary. |
| New Hampshire |
Not Required |
| New Jersey |
Not Required |
| New Mexico |
Not Required |
| New York |
Not Required |
| North Carolina |
Not Required |
| North Dakota |
Not Required (see note below)
NOTE- Every notary must keep a record of all notices, promissory notes, and non-acceptance or non-payment protests that are served to the person who the protest is being made against. All records must be deposited with the Secretary of State's Office within 3 months of expiration, revocation, or resignation of commission. |
| Ohio |
Required
NOTE- Upon notary's death, expiration of commission without reappointment, or removal from office, the recordbook shall be deposited in the county recorder's office in the notary's county of residence. |
| Oklahoma |
Not Required |
| Oregon |
Required
NOTE- Recordbook must be retained for 7 years after an inactive commission. Upon revocation, resignation, or the death of any notary who has an active commission, the recordbook must be sent to the Secretary of State's Office. |
| Pennsylvania |
Required
NOTE- Upon a notary public's resignation, death or disqualification or upon the revocation or expiration of a commission, the notary public's register shall be delivered to the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of the proper county the notary is registered with within 30 days. |
| Rhode Island |
Not Required |
| South Carolina |
Not Required |
| South Dakota |
Not Required |
| Tennessee |
Required |
| Texas |
Required
NOTE- Recordbook must be delivered to the County Clerk's Office upon death, expiration, or revocation of commission. Notaries are prohibited from recording any identification card numbers, passport numbers, or personal identification numbers that are associated with the signer in their recordbook. |
| Utah |
Not Required (see note below)
NOTE- If a recordbook/jounral is used it must be turned into the County Clerk’s Office upon death, expiration, or revocation of commission. |
| Vermont |
Not Required |
| Virginia |
Not Required |
| Virgin Islands (U.S.) |
Required |
| Washington |
Not Required |
| West Virginia |
Not Required
NOTE- Although the recordbook is not required, if any papers or copies were retained relating to notarial acts, the papers/copies shall be sent by certified mail or delivered to the Secretary of State’s Office in the event of death, expiration, or revocation of commission. |
| Wisconsin |
Not Required |
| Wyoming |
Not Required |
