NH Notary NH Notary Journal and Record Keeping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which detail about a signer's identification should be recorded in a notary journal?
- The ID number only
- The type of ID and issuing authority (Correct answer)
- Only the expiration date
- The signer's Social Security Number
Correct answer: The type of ID and issuing authority
Recording the type of ID (e.g., driver's license) and issuing authority documents how identity was verified without recording sensitive numbers.
Question 2: Can a NH notary use a digital or electronic journal?
- No, only paper journals are permitted
- Yes, electronic journals are permitted especially for electronic notarizations (Correct answer)
- Only for remote notarizations
- Only with Secretary of State approval
Correct answer: Yes, electronic journals are permitted especially for electronic notarizations
NH law and best practice allow electronic journals, and they are particularly common in electronic and remote notarization workflows.
Question 3: Should a NH notary record a refusal to notarize in their journal?
- Never
- Yes, documenting refusals protects the notary (Correct answer)
- Only if the signer complains
- Only if the document was real estate-related
Correct answer: Yes, documenting refusals protects the notary
Recording refusals with the reason provides a protective record demonstrating the notary acted lawfully.
Question 4: What should a notary do if their journal is lost or stolen?
- Ignore it and continue working
- Report it to law enforcement and notify the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Purchase a new journal and continue
- Only report it if it contained real estate documents
Correct answer: Report it to law enforcement and notify the Secretary of State
A lost or stolen journal should be reported to law enforcement and the Secretary of State's office to prevent misuse.
Question 5: When notarizing multiple documents for the same signer in one session, how many journal entries are recommended?
- One entry covering all documents
- A separate entry for each notarial act performed (Correct answer)
- No entries needed for repeat signers
- Only one entry per document type
Correct answer: A separate entry for each notarial act performed
Each individual notarial act should have its own journal entry to clearly document what was notarized.
Question 6: Is it appropriate to allow a signer to review or copy entries from a NH notary's journal?
- Yes, unrestricted access must be given
- Only entries relating to that specific signer may be shared (Correct answer)
- No, journals are entirely private
- Only with a court order
Correct answer: Only entries relating to that specific signer may be shared
A notary may share journal entries with the signer they relate to, but should not expose other signers' private information.
NH Notary NH Notary Journal and Record Keeping 2
Which detail about a signer's identification should be recorded in a notary journal?