Hi,
I have been doing this for a few months now, but I think I may have been recording the notarizations in my journal incorrectly. I have had signings that had 20 notarizations before, which is overwhelming when recording in a journal. I’ve been just documenting one of the documents from the closing package to be notarized and then having the signer sign. Should I really record each doc notarized in my journal?!
Thanks for your help!
Where are you located?
I’m located in Texas.
I think you need to, at the very least, list each document - maybe only have signers sign your journal once with one set of identification info but each doc should be listed IMO
From your handbook: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/edinfo.shtml
" Record Book and Public Records
Tex. Gov’t. Code Ann. § 406.014 requires that a Notary Public maintain a record book. This record book must be maintained whether or not any fees are charged for your notary public services.
A notary public other than a court clerk notarizing instruments for the court shall keep in a book a record of: (1) the date of each instrument notarized; (2) the date of the notarization; (3) the name of the signer, grantor, or maker; (4) the signer’s, grantor’s, or maker’s residence or alleged residence; (5) whether the signer, grantor, or maker is personally known by the notary public, was identified by an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a passport issued by the United States, or was introduced to the notary public and, if introduced, the name and residence or alleged residence of the individual introducing the signer, grantor, or maker; (6) if the instrument is proved by a witness, the residence of the witness, whether the witness is personally known by the notary public or was introduced to the notary public and, if introduced, the name and residence of the individual introducing the witness; (7) the name and residence of the grantee; (8) if land is conveyed or charged by the instrument, the name of the original grantee and the county where the land is located; and (9) a brief description of the instrument.
NOTE: 1 T.A.C. §87.40 prohibits a notary from recording in the notary’s book of record the identification number that was assigned by the governmental agency or by the United States to the signer, grantor or maker and that is set forth on the identification card or passport; or any other number that could be used to identify the signer, grantor or maker of the document. Section 87.40 does not prohibit a notary from recording a number related to the residence or alleged residence of the signer, grantor or maker of the document or the instrument."
OK, well, I should have looked there myself. That’s a good idea to do just one set of identification info but still list each document. That helps a lot. Thanks, Linda!
That’s how we’re allowed to do it here in FL IF we keep a journal - we’re not required to for traditional notarizations. The only reason I say list the docs is because if someone requests a copy of your journal where you notarized document “C” and you only listed document “A” - that could be a problem.
Right. Of course. Thanks, again.
You can look into getting a “Modern Notary Journal” that has checkboxes for the most common documents. That way you can record that you notarized several documents on one line and the signers only need to sign your journal once.
Loren, that is awesome! I didn’t know such a thing existed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
