In what format must a notary record the physical location of themselves and the principal?

The correct answer is that a notary must record the physical location of themselves and the principal by indicating the city and state only. This requirement is designed to maintain confidentiality while still providing enough information to establish the location where the notarization took place.

By collecting data in the city and state format, it balances the need for relevance and operational efficiency without disclosing excessive personal details, which could protect the privacy of the individuals involved in the notarization. In Illinois, this level of detail ensures that there is a record of the notarization that can be substantiated if needed, while adhering to privacy considerations.

While a full address may seem more comprehensive, it is not necessary for the purposes of a notarial act and may expose private information unnecessarily. Similarly, only providing the state or city does not fulfill the requirement of being clear and specific enough about the location, which is why those options are not ideal for this recording purpose.