How long must a notary public keep their journal of notarial acts?

A notary public in California is required to keep their journal of notarial acts for a minimum of three years. This requirement is in place to ensure that there is a reliable record of the notarial acts performed, which can be important for legal, administrative, or personal verification purposes. Maintaining a journal for at least three years helps notaries provide evidence should questions arise regarding the authenticity of a signature or the details of a transaction.

The other timeframes do not align with legal requirements for notaries in California. For instance, one year is insufficient, as it does not provide enough time to address any potential disputes or inquiries related to notarial acts. Five years would exceed the minimum requirement, and while it's beneficial for notaries to retain records longer than mandated, they are not obligated to do so. Lastly, indefinite retention could lead to complications in record management and privacy issues, as it is not practical for notaries to keep records forever without guidelines on disposition.