JOURNAL REQUIRED

Washington notary journal requirements

Journal required; tangible journals must be permanent bound registers. Retain 10 years; notify Department of Licensing if lost or stolen. Thumbprint capture disabled pending biometric-privacy review.

JournalRequired for every notarial act
Suggested retention10 years
ID numbers in entriesSealBook records type, state, expiration + last 4 only
ThumbprintNot offered for this state's commissions
Max statutory fee$10.00 per act

What SealBook does for Washington 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 Washington journal free

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