Every time you notarize - and this includes notaries who are completing PennDOT documents - the information must be entered into your journal in chronological order.

This information includes:

• The date and time of the notary act. It is always the date and time in which your customer stands before you in person.
• A description of the record, if any, and the type of notary act.
• Notary fee, if charged.
• Clerical and administrative fees, if charged.
  • If you do not charge a notary fee and/or a clerical and administrative fee, you must enter 0 (zero) or N/C for "No Charge" in these spaces.
• Customer information including name, city and state where the customer lives.
• Statement regarding the method of identification and any identification credential presented, including the date of issue and expiration date.
  • If you are using personal knowledge as the identification method (meaning you know your customer as a neighbor, friend, co-worker, etc.), then checking the box for Personal Knowledge is enough. It satisfies the statutory requirement of identification.
• If using satisfactory evidence as the method of identification, other pertinent inforamtion may be included and written in the Remarks column. However, do not include the customer's personal information such as a full driver's license, Social Security or state identification card numbers; financial account numbers, etc., in your journal.
• If a credible witness is being used for the proper identification of a customer, the credible witness must complete a verification on oath or affirmation that each of the following is true:
  • The individual appearing before you as the signer of the document is the person named in the document.
  • The credible witness personally knows the signer.
  • The signer does not possess any identification documents authorized by law to establish his or her identity.
  • The credible witness does not have a direct or pecuniary interest  in the record being notarized.
  • Use of a credible witness requires a separate notarization entry in your journal.

Remember: every time you place your notary stamp on a document, you must record that notarization in your journal. One stamp = one entry in your journal.