Nevada § 240.120 - Journal of notarial acts: Duty to maintain; contents; verification based upon credible witness; copy of entry; storage; period of retention; report of loss or theft; exceptions

Full text of Nevada Nevada Revised Statutes § 240.120 — Journal of notarial acts: Duty to maintain; contents; verification based upon credible witness; copy of entry; storage; period of retention; report of loss or theft; exceptions, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 240.120. Journal of notarial acts: Duty to maintain; contents; verification based upon credible witness; copy of entry; storage; period of retention; report of loss or theft; exceptions

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, each notary public shall keep a journal

in his or her office in which the notary public shall enter for each notarial act

performed, at the time the act is performed: (a) The fees charged, if any; (b) The title of the document; (c) The date on which the notary public performed the act; (d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the name and signature of the person

whose signature is being notarized; (e) Subject to the provisions of subsection 4, a description of the evidence used

by the notary public to verify the identification of the person whose signature is

being notarized; (f) An indication of whether the notary public administered an oath; and (g) The type of certificate used to evidence the notarial act, as required pursuant

to NRS 240.1655 . 2. A notary public may make one entry in the journal which documents more than one

notarial act if the notarial acts documented are performed: (a) For the same person and at the same time; and (b) On one document or on similar documents. 3. When performing a notarial act for a person, a notary public need not require the

person to sign the journal if: (a) The notary public has performed a notarial act for the person within the previous

6 months; (b) The notary public has personal knowledge of the identity of the person; and (c) The person is an employer or coworker of the notary public and the notarial act

relates to a transaction performed in the ordinary course of the person's business. 4. If, pursuant to subsection 3, a notary public does not require a person to sign

the journal, the notary public shall enter “known personally” as the description required

to be entered into the journal pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 1. 5. If the notary verifies the identification of the person whose signature is being

notarized on the basis of a credible witness, the notary public shall: (a) Require the witness to sign the journal in the space provided for the description

of the evidence used; and (b) Make a notation in the journal that the witness is a credible witness. 6. The journal must: (a) Be open to public inspection. (b) Be in a bound volume with preprinted page numbers. 7. A notary public shall, upon request and payment of the fee set forth in NRS 240.100 , provide a certified copy of an entry in his or her journal. 8. A notary public shall keep his or her journal in a secure location during any period

in which the notary public is not making an entry or notation in the journal pursuant

to this section. 9. A notary public shall retain each journal that the notary public has kept pursuant

to this section until 7 years after the date on which he or she ceases to be a notary

public. 10. A notary public shall file a report with the Secretary of State and the appropriate

law enforcement agency if the journal of the notary public is lost or stolen. 11. The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who is authorized to perform

a notarial act pursuant to paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subsection 1 of NRS 240.1635 .

Source: official Nevada text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada § 240.120

What does Nevada Revised Statutes § 240.120 cover?

Section 240.120 ("Journal of notarial acts: Duty to maintain; contents; verification based upon credible witness; copy of entry; storage; period of retention; report of loss or theft; exceptions") is part of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Nevada. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Nevada § 240.120?

A common citation format is "Nevada Revised Statutes § 240.120" (Nevada). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Nevada law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Nevada official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Nevada attorney.

How does Nevada § 240.120 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Nevada can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Nevada.