When may a notary keep two journals?

• A. When performing both public-record and non-public-record notarizations
• B. When all notarizations performed are public record
• C. Never; one journal only
• D. When performing electronic notarizations only

Answer: (A)

The idea behind journaling for notaries is to create a clear, auditable record of every notarial act. In Arizona, some notarizations are designated as public-record because they become part of official government or property records, while others are non-public-record and pertain to private documents. When you are handling both kinds of notarizations, keeping two separate journals helps keep these categories distinct: the public-record journal can stay aligned with official record-keeping needs and be easier to review by authorities, while the non-public-record journal protects privacy for private documents and avoids mixing sensitive information with public records. So, you may maintain two journals specifically in the situation where you perform both public-record and non-public-record notarizations. If you’re only doing one type, a single journal generally suffices.