A Notary Public is asked by a private citizen to allow them to inspect a journal entry for a notarial act they were a party to. The citizen provides the exact date range, document type, and names of all parties involved in the act. What is the Notary Public's responsibility regarding this request?
- ARefuse the request, as journal entries are not subject to public inspection.
- BProvide a certified copy of the journal entry upon payment of the allowed fee.
- CAllow the citizen to physically inspect the journal entry in the Notary's presence.
- DOnly provide the date and type of act, withholding all other details.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Provide a certified copy of the journal entry upon payment of the allowed fee.
California Government Code Section 8206(c) states that a Notary Public must provide a certified copy of a journal entry to any person who requests it and provides the specified identifying information (month, year, document type, and names of parties), upon payment of a fee not to exceed thirty cents ($0.30) per page. Direct physical inspection of the journal by the public is not permitted to protect the privacy of other entries.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Journal entries are subject to inspection and copying by qualified requesters; outright refusal is incorrect.
- C. Direct inspection by the public is not allowed to protect the privacy of other entries.
- D. More information than just date and type of act must be provided in a certified copy if requested, subject to redaction rules.
Journal Entry Inspection/Copy Request
A Notary Public must provide a certified copy of a journal entry to a requesting party who provides specific identifying information, for a statutory fee, but direct physical inspection of the journal is not permitted.
- Request must be in writing and include month/year, instrument type, and names of parties.
- Notary provides a certified copy, not direct inspection.
- Fee is limited to $0.30 per page.
- Response must be within 15 business days.
Memory trick: Public wants your journal? 'No Peeking, Just Copies' for a fee.