Sourced from the official booklet. We base everything on the Department of State's Notary Public License Law (September 2026 edition). Rules and fees can change, so confirm with the NY Department of State before you act.
What each record must include
- The date, approximate time and type of notarial act.
- The name and address of each person you notarized for.
- The number and type of notarial services.
- The type of credential used to identify the principal. If witnesses were used, include their names and their credential type.
- The verification procedures used for the personal appearance.
- For electronic acts: the communication technology and, if it is separate, the certification authority and verification providers.
The rules
- Make the record contemporaneously, at the time of the act.
- Keep it for at least 10 years.
- A third-party service may store it if it is password-protected or similarly secured.
- You must be able to produce it to the Secretary of State.