California Notary Journal Requirements

California journal rules at a glance

• Required (Gov. Code § 8206). Keep one active, sequential journal at a time, locked and under the notary's exclusive control.
• Record: date, time, and type of act; the document; each signer's signature; how ID was established, with ID details; and the fee.
• A thumbprint is required in the journal for deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, other real-property documents, and powers of attorney.
• The journal belongs to the notary, not the employer. Report a lost or stolen journal to the Secretary of State immediately.
• When the commission ends, deliver journals to the county clerk within 30 days.

From the official California notary sources, checked October 20, 2026: sos.ca.gov (1), sos.ca.gov (2), notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov, sos.ca.gov (4). Lines marked "Not confirmed" need checking with the state. General information, not legal advice.

Inside the California Notary Journal

• 500 numbered entries, laid out the way California entries should be recorded.
• The fields California requires, and nothing it doesn't allow you to record.
• A built-in California notary handbook in the back matter, with loan-signing basics and a notary info log.
• Original California cover art from Uptown Seal Press.
• Paperback or hardcover, printed to order and shipped free.