Notary journal requirements in Alabama
No statute forces Alabama notaries to keep a journal — but every professional association recommends one, because the journal is your only evidence years later of what you did and how you identified the signer.
Format
An electronic journal is permitted.
How long to keep it
Retention in Alabama: not fixed by statute — keep entries at least as long as your state's claim periods.
Worth knowing
A record of fees is required if you charge them.
What each entry should include
| Date and time | When the notarization happened — not when you filled in the entry. |
| Type of notarial act | Acknowledgment, jurat, oath or affirmation, signature witnessing, or copy certification. |
| Document description | The kind of document (deed, power of attorney, affidavit) and its date, if it has one. |
| Signer's name and address | As shown on their identification. |
| How the signer was identified | ID document (record the type and issuer — never the ID number), personal knowledge, or a credible witness. |
| Fee charged | Including any travel fee, itemized. Record $0 if you didn't charge. |
| Signer's signature | Most journal formats include a signature line for the signer. |
Never record ID numbers, Social Security numbers, or card numbers in a journal — several states prohibit it and none require it.
Need a paper version today? Print our free printable notary journal template.
Keep your journal on the phone already in your pocket. Signet numbers every entry automatically, captures signer signatures on screen, totals your fees for tax season, and exports the whole record as CSV when a court or your state asks. Adapted to your state's rules. Coming to the App Store.
Sources: state statute summaries reviewed August 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the Alabama commissioning authority.