Legal Definitions - sequential journal

A sequential journal, also known as a journal of notarial acts, is a meticulously maintained chronological record kept by a notary public of every official act they perform. This journal serves as an essential logbook, documenting specific details for each notarial act, such as the date and time it occurred, the type of act performed (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat), the name and signature of the person whose signature was notarized, the method used to identify that person, and any fees charged. Its sequential nature ensures that all notarial acts are recorded in the exact order they occur, providing a clear, verifiable, and permanent history of the notary's official duties. This record is crucial for accountability, preventing fraud, and serving as evidence if questions arise about a notarized document.

• Example 1 (Real Estate Transaction): When a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chen, sell their home, they meet with a notary public to sign the deed, which requires notarization. The notary performs an acknowledgment for their signatures. Immediately after completing the notarization, the notary opens their sequential journal and records the date, time, the fact that they performed an acknowledgment for Mr. and Mrs. Chen, how they identified the couple (e.g., by driver's license), and the title of the document (the deed). This entry is made before any other notarial act, ensuring its proper place in the chronological sequence of the notary's work.

• Example 2 (Personal Legal Document): Sarah needs a power of attorney to allow her sister to manage her financial affairs while she is traveling abroad. She visits a notary public to have her signature on the power of attorney document notarized. The notary administers an oath to Sarah and then notarizes her signature, performing a jurat. Immediately afterward, the notary records the details of this act in their sequential journal: the date, time, the type of act (jurat), Sarah's name, the identification she presented, and the document's title (power of attorney). This entry is logged in the exact order it happened, maintaining the journal's sequential integrity.

• Example 3 (Corporate Business Document): A small business, "Tech Solutions Inc.," holds a board meeting where they pass a resolution to open a new corporate bank account. The corporate secretary's signature on the resolution needs to be notarized. A notary public is called in to perform a jurat, attesting that the secretary signed the document under oath. The notary then records this specific notarial act in their sequential journal, noting the date, time, the type of act, the name of the corporate secretary, the identification used, and the document (corporate resolution). This entry becomes a permanent, chronological record of the notary's involvement in the company's official business.