JOURNAL REQUIRED

Maryland notary journal requirements

Journal required for every notarial act (ACM State Gov't §18-219); retain 10 years after the last act. Tangible journals: permanent bound register; electronic: permanent tamper-evident format. Lost/stolen journals: notify the Secretary of State promptly. RON note: Maryland requires SOS-approved RON technology vendors.

JournalRequired for every notarial act
Suggested retention10 years
ID numbers in entriesSealBook records type, state, expiration + last 4 only
ThumbprintOptional, with signer consent

What SealBook does for Maryland notaries

Snap the document, scan the ID barcode, signer signs on screen — a complete, tamper-evident journal entry in under 60 seconds, with the retention clock, entry fields, and recording restrictions for your commission handled automatically. Optional evidence mode keeps an encrypted copy of exactly what you notarized, sealed into the record by hash.

Start your Maryland journal free

Summary reviewed against the cited source on July 8, 2026. Laws change — always confirm with your commissioning office.