I had a request from someone to look through my journal. Is that allowed in the State of Alabama? — D.M., Alabama

There isn’t a specific statute in the Alabama Code that addresses this issue. As an Alabama Notary, you are not required to keep a journal. We commend you for doing so. If someone requests to look at your journal, we recommend following The Notary Code of Professional Responsibility, which suggests (VIII-B-1) that any requests to inspect an entry in your journal to be made in writing and specify:

• The month and year of the notarization;
• The document type; and
• The name of the signer(s).

When providing access to a record entry or a photocopy of a record entry, we recommend that other unrelated entries on the page be covered to protect the privacy of other signers.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

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