NNA Notary Journal Requirements Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Notary is completing a journal entry for an acknowledgment on a deed of trust.
Which of the following pieces of information is the Notary specifically prohibited from recording in their journal in some states, such as Texas and Montana?

Accepted Answer

The serial number from the signer's driver's license

Answer

The signer's mailing address

Answer

The fee charged for the notarial act

Answer

The date and time of the notarization

Question 2

According to NNA recommended best practices, when is the ideal time to complete the journal entry for a notarization?

Accepted Answer

While the signer is present and before completing the notarial certificate

Answer

At the end of the business day for all notarizations performed

Answer

Immediately after the signer has left the premises

Answer

Within 24 hours of the notarial act

Question 3

A Notary in a state that has not adopted specific journal guidelines asks for advice on what type of physical journal to use. Based on the Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility and NNA recommendations, which of the following is the best choice?

Accepted Answer

A permanently bound journal with numbered pages

Answer

A three-ring binder with loose-leaf pages

Answer

A spiral-bound notebook

Answer

A digital document on a personal computer

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true regarding the ownership and custody of a Notary's journal?

Accepted Answer

The journal is the exclusive property of the Notary and must remain under their sole control, regardless of who paid for it.

Answer

If an employer pays for the journal, it is considered company property and must be surrendered upon termination of employment.

Answer

A Notary may allow their supervisor to borrow the journal to make copies of business-related entries.

Answer

The journal should be filed with the county clerk's office at the end of each calendar year.

Question 5

A signer appears before a Notary for the notarization of three separate documents, each requiring an acknowledgment. How should the Notary record this in their journal?

Accepted Answer

Create a separate and complete journal entry for each of the three notarizations.

Answer

Record one comprehensive entry that lists all three documents.

Answer

Make one entry and use ditto marks for the duplicate information on the subsequent lines.

Answer

Record only the first notarization, as the signer is the same for all three.

Question 6

In a state where a journal is required, a member of the public requests a copy of a specific journal entry from a Notary's records. According to common state laws and NNA guidance, what is the Notary's responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Provide a certified copy of the specific line item requested, but not other entries on the page.

Answer

Refuse the request, as the journal is confidential and cannot be shared.

Answer

Provide a copy of the entire page on which the entry appears.

Answer

Allow the person to take the journal to make a copy and return it later.

A Notary is completing a journal entry for an acknowledgment on a deed of trust.Which of the following pieces of information is the Notary specifically prohibited from recording in their journal in some states, such as Texas and Montana?

A Notary is completing a journal entry for an acknowledgment on a deed of trust.
Which of the following pieces of information is the Notary specifically prohibited from recording in their journal in some states, such as Texas and Montana?