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Notary journal requirements by state
Which states require a notary journal, which allow an electronic notary journal, and how long records must be kept. Last checked 2026-10-25.
| State | Journal | Electronic allowed | Keep for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Alaska | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Paper for paper acts | 10 years |
| Arizona | Required for every act | Paper for paper acts | — |
| Arkansas | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| California | Required for every act | Paper for paper acts | — |
| Colorado | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| Connecticut | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Delaware | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| District of Columbia | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Florida | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | — |
| Georgia | Required for self-filer acts | Yes | — |
| Hawaii | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| Idaho | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Illinois | Required for every act | Unclear | — |
| Indiana | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Iowa | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Kansas | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| Kentucky | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| Louisiana | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | — |
| Maine | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| Maryland | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| Massachusetts | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Michigan | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 5 years |
| Minnesota | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | — |
| Mississippi | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Missouri | Required for every act | Paper for paper acts | 10 years |
| Montana | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Nebraska | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Nevada | Required for every act | Paper for paper acts | 7 years |
| New Hampshire | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| New Jersey | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| New Mexico | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| New York | Required for every act | Yes | 10 years |
| North Carolina | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| North Dakota | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| Ohio | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | — |
| Oklahoma | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| Oregon | Required for every act | Unclear | 10 years |
| Pennsylvania | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Rhode Island | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| South Carolina | Required for remote/electronic acts only | Yes | 10 years |
| South Dakota | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Tennessee | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Texas | Required for every act | Unclear | — |
| Utah | Required for every act | Yes | — |
| Vermont | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Virginia | Required for every act | Unclear | 5 years |
| Washington | Required for every act | Unclear | 10 years |
| West Virginia | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Wisconsin | Not required (recommended) | Yes | — |
| Wyoming | Required for every act | Yes | — |
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