Alabama does not require a journal for traditional acts — but strongly recommends one. If you charge fees, a record is required. Alabama authorizes RIN (Remote Ink Notarization) — not full RON — with 7-year A/V recording retention. Notaries are commissioned by county probate judges, not the SOS. Training required since 2023. NotaryAct covers Alabama best-practice journal needs and remote session documentation.
⚠️ Important for Alabama RON seekers: Alabama’s remote notarization law (§ 36-20-73.1) requires a physical paper document with a wet-ink signature. Standard RON platforms that use electronic signatures and electronic seals are not authorized in Alabama. This is RIN — the signer signs paper on camera, then mails the original to the notary. A/V recording is mandatory and retained 7 years.
| ⚖️ Alabama Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Ala. Code Title 36, Chapter 20 · § 36-20-73.1 (RIN, enacted 2021) · Act 2023-548 (training) |
| Traditional Journal | Not required · Strongly recommended by SOS and training program as best practice |
| Fee Record Requirement | If fees charged, a record of fee-generating acts is required by law ✓ |
| Remote Notarization | RIN authorized (§ 36-20-73.1) — paper document, wet-ink signature, signer mails original ✓ |
| Full RON (E-Signature) | NOT authorized — electronic signatures on documents are not permitted ✓ |
| RIN A/V Recording | Mandatory — notary retains for at least 7 years ✓ |
| RIN Identity Verification | Personal knowledge OR two valid government-issued IDs (one with photo/sig) shown on video PLUS public/private data source verification (KBA) |
| No Voting Documents | Remote notarization may NOT be used for absentee ballot applications or affidavits |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct AL configuration |
| Commissioned By | County probate judge (not the SOS) ✓ |
| Training | Mandatory pre-commission training since September 1, 2023 (Act 2023-548) — via Alabama Probate Judges Association and Alabama Law Institute ✓ |
| Surety Bond | Not required (Alabama eliminated the bond requirement) |
| Max Traditional Fee | $10 per notarial act |
| Commission Term | 4 years · $10 application fee to probate court |
Alabama is one of only a handful of states that commissions notaries through county-level probate judges rather than the Secretary of State. Applicants apply to the Judge of Probate in their county of residence. The SOS maintains a searchable statewide database and receives commission reports, but has no role in the commissioning decision. This decentralized structure means procedures, costs, and processing times can vary by county.
Since September 1, 2023, every new and renewal applicant must complete a mandatory pre-commission training program developed by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute. This training requirement was added by Act 2023-548, signed into law in 2023.
Alabama’s remote notarization statute (§ 36-20-73.1, enacted by SB 275 in 2021) authorizes remote acknowledgment via two-way audio-video — but the underlying document must remain a physical paper with a wet-ink signature. This is Remote Ink Notarization (RIN), not full RON.
The process: the signer appears on video, shows identity documents, and signs the paper document on camera. All documents used during the session must be sent to the notary for authentication and original signature. The notary retains the A/V recording for 7 years. Alabama prohibits standard RON platforms that use electronic signatures and electronic seals on the document itself.
These are the SOS-recommended best-practice fields. NotaryAct’s Alabama configuration enables all of them.
| 1 | Date and time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of notarial act — Acknowledgment, oath/affirmation, proof of execution, protest. NotaryAct dropdown for all Alabama-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Document description — Dedicated document field in NotaryAct. |
| 4 | Full name, signature, and address of each signer — Auto-filled via barcode scanner from any Alabama driver’s license. |
| 5 | Identity verification — ID description, serial/ID number, issuance/expiration dates — NotaryAct captures these fields per best-practice guidance. |
| 6 | Fee charged (max $10) — Required if charging fees; recommended for all acts. NotaryAct fee field in every entry. |
✔ NotaryAct is configured for Alabama: Complete best-practice journal for all traditional and RIN notarizations. Fee-record compliance built in. Remote session documentation fields. Fingerprint capture available as optional feature.
Other state guides: Mississippi · Georgia · Tennessee · Florida · All 50 States →
NotaryAct’s Alabama configuration provides a comprehensive best-practice journal covering all notarizations including the fee-record requirement, plus RIN session documentation for your 7-year A/V retention obligation.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Alabama Code Title 36, Chapter 20 and Act 2023-548 as in effect June 2026. Alabama HB73 (2026 session) which proposed a 2-year commission term did not pass — the 4-year commission remains current law. Consult your county Judge of Probate or the Alabama Secretary of State at sos.alabama.gov for guidance specific to your situation.
