ALBANY- A new state law has taken affect that places new requirements on notaries public. The law requires that notaries maintain a record of every instance in which they provide services.
Section 182.9 of the Notary Public License Law states that notaries public must make a record at the time of the performance of the notarial act.
These records must include the date, approximate time, and type of notarial acts performed. Additionally, notaries must list the name and address of any individuals for whom a notarial act was performed, the number and type of notarial services provided, the type of credential used to identify the principal, including the names of the witnesses and, if applicable, the type of credential used. Notaries must also record the verification procedures used for any personal appearance.
During COVID, electronic notarial acts were approved by the state. Updated legislation allows for the continued use of electronic notarial acts, and new regulations require the notary record the communication technology used by the electronic notary.
Sullivan County Clerk Russell Reeves, whose office handles notary license renewals reminded all notaries of these new rules. “These records must be kept by the notary for at least 10 years, to be produced upon demand of the NYS Secretary of State or other authority.”
