Hotline Tip: Are Notaries Required to Keep Copies of the Documents they Notarize?

Are Notaries Required to Keep Copies of the Documents they Notarize?
-- L.M., Thousand Oaks, California

Since documents often contain sensitive information (private letters, business information, identification numbers), a Notary could be held liable for damages if the signer proved his or her privacy was compromised by copies of the signer’s paperwork. If a Notary is concerned about keeping a record of notarial acts, the proper way to accomplish this, even if it is not a state requirement, is to keep a journal.