What the template contains
Most journals use these columns: date and time, act type, document, signer name and ID, fee, signature and a thumbprint box. The table below is a plain on-page layout you can copy into a notebook or spreadsheet.
| Column | What to write |
|---|---|
| Date and time | When the act took place |
| Act type | For example acknowledgment or jurat |
| Document | A short description of the document |
| Signer name and ID | Name, and how identity was verified |
| Fee | The amount charged |
| Signature | The signer's signature |
| Thumbprint | Only where your state requires it |
Date and time
Record the date and the time of the act. Both are common journal fields.
Act type
Write which act you performed, such as an acknowledgment or a jurat.
Document
Add a brief description of the document. See what goes in a notary journal.
Signer name and ID
Record the signer's name and how you verified identity. Some states require the ID number and some forbid it, so follow your state's rule .
Fee
Write the fee you charged, never more than your state's maximum. See the fee lookup.
Signature
The signer signs the entry. The app captures this on screen, see signature and thumbprint entries.
Thumbprint box
Include the box, and use it where your state requires one.
Check your state's required fields
No, one template is not valid in every state. California requires the ID serial or identifying number in the journal (Gov Code 8206(a)(2)(D)), per the California Notary Public Handbook. The Texas required fields in 406.014(a) do not include an ID number, per the Texas Government Code Chapter 406 . We have not verified the field set for other states, so find yours on the state pages and in your handbook .
Download PDF or CSV
Copy the table above into a spreadsheet and save it as CSV, or print the page to PDF from your browser. A ready-made file download is not offered on this page.
When a paper template stops working
Move to an app when you need fees, mileage and signatures searchable in one place. Compare options on the compare page.
Ready to keep your entries in one place? Get the iOS app for Notary Journal, a notary journal and fee and mileage log for iPhone.
Not legal advice. Check your state's notary handbook or commissioning office before you rely on any summary here.