AL Notary Notary Record-Keeping and Journal 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Should an Alabama notary record a thumbprint in the journal for high-value real estate transactions?
- Yes, recording a thumbprint is a recommended best practice for high-risk documents (Correct answer)
- No, collecting biometric data is prohibited in Alabama
- Only if the signer requests it
- Only for documents over $500,000 in value
Correct answer: Yes, recording a thumbprint is a recommended best practice for high-risk documents
Recording a thumbprint for real estate and other high-value transactions is a recognized best practice that deters fraud and aids law enforcement.
Question 2: An Alabama notary performed a notarial act but forgot to make a journal entry. The notary should:
- Make the entry as soon as possible, noting it was recorded after the fact (Correct answer)
- Skip the entry entirely since the act is already complete
- Contact the signer to come back and re-sign
- File an amendment with the Secretary of State
Correct answer: Make the entry as soon as possible, noting it was recorded after the fact
Late journal entries are better than no entries; the notary should record what happened and note that it was entered after the fact.
Question 3: Which identifying information is recommended when recording a signer's ID in an Alabama notary journal?
- Type of ID, issuing authority, and ID number (Correct answer)
- Only the signer's printed name
- Full Social Security number
- A photocopy of the ID attached to the journal
Correct answer: Type of ID, issuing authority, and ID number
Recording the type of ID, issuing agency, and document number confirms that the notary verified identity without retaining excessive personal data.
Question 4: If an Alabama notary refuses to perform a notarial act, should the refusal be recorded in the journal?
- Yes, recording refusals protects the notary from claims of improper conduct (Correct answer)
- No, only completed acts need to be recorded
- Only if the requester complains to the Secretary of State
- Only if the refusal was due to a legal conflict
Correct answer: Yes, recording refusals protects the notary from claims of improper conduct
Recording refusals documents the notary's reasons and protects against allegations of discriminatory or improper denial of service.
Question 5: An Alabama notary's journal is best described as:
- A chronological record of all notarial acts performed (Correct answer)
- A copy of every document notarized
- A list of all fees charged to clients
- A record of the notary's commission history
Correct answer: A chronological record of all notarial acts performed
The journal is a chronological log of each notarial act, serving as the notary's official record of professional activity.
Question 6: Can an Alabama notary allow a signer to review their own journal entry?
- Yes, the signer may view their own entry but the notary need not allow copying entries for others (Correct answer)
- No, the journal is strictly confidential
- Yes, anyone may inspect the entire journal at any time
- Only if the signer presents a court order
Correct answer: Yes, the signer may view their own entry but the notary need not allow copying entries for others
A signer generally has a right to confirm their own entry, but the notary is not required to disclose other signers' entries to protect their privacy.
AL Notary Notary Record-Keeping and Journal 2
Should an Alabama notary record a thumbprint in the journal for high-value real estate transactions?