Colorado Notary Journal Requirements (2026)

ByAardvark Notary Training Posted on Updated on
Hand writing with pen on notebook

Key Takeaways

  • Colorado requires notaries to maintain a notary journal recording every notarial act
  • There is one exception: if the document being notarized already contains all required journal information and is kept by your firm or employer
  • The journal must include 9 specific pieces of information per entry (date, type of act, document title, signer details, etc.)
  • The Secretary of State does not provide journals. You purchase your own from a notary supply retailer
  • The journal is a critical legal record that protects you if a notarization is ever questioned

A record must be kept every time a Colorado notary public performs a notarial act. This record goes in the Colorado notary journal. It’s one of the requirements for becoming a CO notary, and it’s non-negotiable, with one exception.

The One Exception

If the original, copy, or electronic record of the document being notarized includes all of the information that would normally go in the journal, and the document is kept by your firm or employer, you don’t have to enter it in the journal. But the state still recommends that every notarization gets recorded regardless. Play it safe and log everything.

What Goes in the Journal

Every journal entry must include all of the following:

  1. Date the date the notarial act occurred
  2. Type of notarial act acknowledgment, jurat, oath, etc.
  3. Document title or type what was notarized (e.g., “Power of Attorney,” “Deed of Trust”)
  4. Document date if different from the notarization date
  5. Signer’s name full name of each person whose signature was notarized
  6. Signer’s signature and address the signer signs and prints their address in the journal
  7. Witness information if applicable, printed name, signature, and address of each witness
  8. Certificate of authentication if applicable, for electronic signatures
  9. Additional information anything else you think should be recorded (some notaries include thumbprints, though Colorado doesn’t require them)

Why the Journal Matters

Your journal is your proof of what happened at a notarization. If someone questions whether a document was properly notarized. Months or years later. The journal is your evidence. Without it, you have no record to defend yourself.

Colorado law treats the journal as an official record. A well-maintained journal protects you from liability and helps resolve disputes about when, where, and by whom a document was signed.

Where to Get a Notary Journal

The Secretary of State does not provide journals (or stamps). You purchase these from retailers that specialize in Colorado notary supplies. notarystyle.com carries notary journals with pre-printed columns for the required fields. A standard notary journal runs $15 to $25.

Look for a journal with pre-printed columns for the required fields, it makes recording entries faster and less likely to miss something. Some journals include a thumbprint space even though Colorado doesn’t require it.

Journal Retention

Keep your journal for the duration of your commission. When you renew, start a new journal for the new commission period but retain the old one. If you leave the notary profession, keep your journals in a secure location, they’re still legal records that may need to be referenced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to record every notarization in my journal?

Yes, with one narrow exception: if your employer keeps the original document and it contains all the information that would go in the journal. Even then, the state recommends recording it anyway.

Does Colorado require thumbprints in the journal?

No, but some notaries choose to include them as an extra layer of verification, especially if they’ve worked as notaries in other states that require them.

What kind of journal should I buy?

Any journal designed for notary use with pre-printed columns for the required fields works fine. Make sure it has space for all 9 required pieces of information listed above.

What happens if I lose my journal?

Report it to the Colorado Secretary of State immediately. A lost journal is a serious matter since it contains sensitive signer information. Keep your journal in a secure location when not in use.

Related Reading

Updated May 2026. Requirements based on the Colorado Notary Public Handbook and C.R.S. § 24-21-523.

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