How long is a Notary required to keep his or her old Notary journals? – L.H., South Dakota
South Dakota does not require Notaries to maintain a journal, though it is a practice recommended by the South Dakota Secretary of State. The retention period is not addressed since it is not a requirement; therefore, it is up to the discretion of the Notary how long to keep the journal.
In the absence of a law or a rule, the NNA recommends following The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility and keeping his or her official journal of notarial acts in his or her possession for at least 10 years from the date of the last entry in the journal (VIII-C-2) as it can provide very important documentation in the event of a future lawsuit.
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