Do I need to write the signer’s driver's license number in my journal, or is just verifying the ID fine? I've seen banks write down the ID number in the Notary journal. — N.K., Texas
Texas Notaries are prohibited from recording an ID number in their journal entries. Just because Notaries in banks do it doesn’t make it legal. The only authority to follow on this and any other matter affecting a notarial act is the law of the state of Texas. In this case, the Texas Administrative Code has a provision directly on point here:
“A notary public (other than a court clerk notarizing instruments for the court) shall not record in the notary’s record book:
“(1) an identification number that was assigned by a governmental agency or by the United States to the principal and that is set forth on the identification card or passport presented as identification …” (1 TAC 87.50[a][1]).
Notaries in other states must follow their own state requirements when recording information in their journal entries. For more information, please see our article and video on recording Notary journal entries. Additional information on states with specific journal privacy restrictions can be found in our article on avoiding Notary privacy breaches.
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
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