Utah Notary Public — All Questions

Under Utah's 2026 change, what is the journal requirement for notaries?

• a.Journals are banned
• b.Only attorneys must keep journals
• c.New and renewing notaries must keep a journal of their notarial acts✓
• d.Journals are required only for weddings

Effective May 6, 2026 under SB 139, Utah requires new and renewing notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts. A traditional journal is a permanently bound book with numbered pages; remote online notaries keep an electronic journal of each remote act.Utah SB 139 (effective May 6, 2026); Utah Notary Handbook

What is required of a Utah notary's official seal or stamp?

• a.It must be gold embossed only
• b.Every notary must have a seal that produces a legible, reproducible impression in blue or black ink✓
• c.It must contain the signer's name
• d.It is optional in Utah

Every Utah notary must have a seal of office that leaves a clear, reproducible impression, using blue or black ink, showing the notary's identifying information and commission details. The seal authenticates each act; it never contains the signer's information.Utah Code 46-1 (Notaries Public Reform Act); Utah Notary Handbook

What should a Utah journal entry generally capture for each act?

• a.The date and time, type of act, description of the document, the signer's name and signature, the method of identification, and any fee✓
• b.The signer's bank balance
• c.The notary's political affiliation
• d.A full photocopy of the signed document

A useful journal entry records the date and time, the type of act, a brief description of the document, the signer's name and signature, how they were identified, and the fee. It documents the act; it is not a copy of the document and should not hold sensitive financial data.Utah Notary Handbook (Utah Lieutenant Governor)

A Utah notary's seal is lost or stolen. What is the proper step?

• a.Ignore it unless it is misused
• b.Keep using a photocopy of an old impression
• c.Wait until renewal to address it
• d.Take prompt steps to prevent misuse and obtain a replacement, and report the loss as required✓

A lost or stolen seal is a fraud risk, so the notary should act promptly to prevent misuse, report the loss as required, and secure a replacement. Continuing to rely on an old impression is not acceptable.Utah Notary Handbook (Utah Lieutenant Governor)