Notary journal requirements in California
Yes — California law requires notaries to keep a journal of their notarial acts.
Format
The legal journal must be a bound paper book — an app serves as your searchable companion record and fee log alongside it.
How long to keep it
Retention in California: 10 years.
Thumbprints
A thumbprint is REQUIRED in the journal for deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust and powers of attorney affecting real property.
Worth knowing
California requires a single bound paper journal for traditional acts. An app is your searchable companion record and fee tracker — the bound book remains the legal journal. Deliver the journal to the county clerk within 30 days when your commission ends.
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 California commissioning authority.