When employed by an attorney, what is required regarding notarial journals?

The requirement for notarial journals in Illinois emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper records for notarial acts. When an attorney employs a notary, the law often recognizes that the attorney's law firm may retain sufficient records of the notarial acts performed, thereby relieving the notary of the obligation to keep a personal journal. This is based on the understanding that a law firm typically has robust mechanisms for document retention and can provide the necessary documentation for any notarial acts performed in connection with legal matters.

In this context, the firm’s maintenance of document copies serves as a sufficient record-keeping practice, supporting the idea that individual notarization logs may not be an absolute requirement in such professional settings. However, outside of an attorney's employment, notaries are usually encouraged or required to maintain their own detailed journals to ensure that they are complying with the law regarding notarial acts.