What type of journal must every Illinois notary maintain?

Every Illinois notary is required to maintain a notary journal as part of their duties. This journal serves as an official record of all notarial acts performed, which is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability in the notary's functions. The notary journal helps to document important details such as the date of the notarial act, the type of act performed, identification used, and signatures of the parties involved.

Maintaining a notary journal not only aids in verifying the notary's actions if questioned but also protects the notary against potential fraud claims or disputes that may arise regarding their notarial acts. The absence of a proper journal could leave a notary unprotected and unable to provide evidence of their professional conduct.

In contrast to this, payment journals, tax journals, and personal journals do not fulfill the legal requirements imposed on notaries and are not specifically relevant to the duties of a notary public in Illinois.