New York State Notary Practice Exam 2025 - Free Notary Practice Questions and Study Guide

A notary must include the date and type of notarization performed in their journal of notarial acts because this record-keeping is a fundamental part of the notarial process. The journal serves as an official record that provides a chronological account of all notarial acts performed, ensuring transparency and accountability. Including the date helps to establish a timeline of activities, which can be essential in legal contexts or if a notarial act is ever questioned.

Moreover, documenting the type of notarization performed—such as an acknowledgment, jurat, or signature witnessing—clarifies the nature of each transaction and provides important context for any disputes or inquiries in the future. This thorough record-keeping is also a requirement under New York State law, which emphasizes the necessity of maintaining accurate and complete journals.

In contrast, a notary's professional background may not be relevant to the specific notarial acts performed and wouldn't be necessary to include. Personal notes about the signer are also not appropriate; the journal should focus on the act itself rather than personal information, which can compromise confidentiality. Lastly, while a notary may charge fees in certain situations, recording notarial fees in the journal is not mandated and is therefore not a required entry. The focus should remain on the acts performed rather