Government Code §§8206(c) and 8206.5 give any member of the public the right to request a photostatic copy of a line item from a notary's sequential journal. The written request must include all three of the following elements — without exception:
1. Names of the parties
2. Type of document notarized
3. Month and year the notarization occurred
Upon receiving a valid request, the notary has 15 business days to respond — either by supplying the copy or by confirming in writing that no matching entry exists. The maximum charge is $0.30 per page.
A request missing any one of the three elements is legally incomplete, and the notary may decline it. Providing the names and a date without specifying the document type is not sufficient.
Exam Tip: Three numbers define this rule — 3 required elements, 15 business days, $0.30 per page. Willfully refusing a valid request is a $1,500 civil penalty (willful violation), not the $2,500 penalty — that higher amount applies specifically to refusing journal inspection by a peace officer.
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