Indiana does not require a journal for traditional notarizations — but strongly recommends one. RON requires a mandatory electronic journal and A/V recording. Indiana has an unusually long 8-year commission and a $100 RON authorization fee. NotaryAct is state-configured for Indiana — RON fields fully enabled, best-practice journal available for all acts.
| ⚖️ Indiana Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Indiana Code Title 33, Article 42 (IC 33-42) · IC 33-42-17 (RON) |
| Traditional Journal | Not required by law · Strongly recommended by Indiana SOS |
| RON Electronic Journal | Mandatory — for all remote notarial acts ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Required ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct IN configuration |
| Commission Term | 8 years — one of the longest in the United States ✓ |
| RON Authorization | Separate application required · $100 fee · 90+ days remaining on commission ✓ |
| RON Max Fee | $25 per remote notarial act |
| Traditional Max Fee | $10 per notarial act |
| Background Check | Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History required for new applicants ($16.32) |
| Application Portal | INBiz (inbiz.in.gov) — Indiana’s online business services portal |
Indiana follows the same general approach as Ohio, Michigan, and Florida: no statutory journal requirement for traditional in-person notarizations, but strict electronic recordkeeping requirements for remote online notarizations. The Indiana Secretary of State strongly recommends keeping a voluntary journal for all notarizations.
Indiana also has one of the most straightforward commissioning processes of any state — everything runs through INBiz, the state’s online business portal, and the 8-year commission term means most notaries go many years between renewals.
Indiana’s notary commission term of 8 years is among the longest in the country. Most states issue 4-year commissions; a handful issue 5 or 6 years; Indiana’s 8-year term means significantly less administrative overhead for notaries and their employers. The extended term applies to both traditional commission holders and those with RON authorization — both expire on the same date.
The tradeoff: Indiana notaries must track changes in law carefully over an 8-year span. The state’s continuing education requirements help, but notaries should proactively monitor Indiana SOS updates between renewals.
Although not legally required for traditional acts, these are the fields Indiana notaries should include in every voluntary journal entry. NotaryAct’s Indiana configuration enables all of them.
| 1 | Date and Time Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Notarial Act Acknowledgment, jurat, oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting a signature, or copy certification. NotaryAct dropdown covers all Indiana-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Document Description Title or type of the document being notarized. NotaryAct includes a dedicated document description field. |
| 4 | Signer’s Name and Address Full name and address. NotaryAct’s barcode scanner auto-fills from any Indiana driver’s license — instantly and accurately. |
| 5 | Identity Verification Method Personal knowledge, credible witness, or current government-issued ID with photo and signature. NotaryAct supports all three with dedicated fields. ID must be current under IC 33-42-9-6. |
| 6 | Signer’s Signature Electronic signature capture in NotaryAct for every entry. Comparing the journal and document signatures is one of the most effective fraud-detection tools for notaries. |
| + | Fee Charged Indiana’s maximum is $10 per traditional notarial act and $25 per RON act. NotaryAct includes a fee field with the applicable maximum for the act type. |
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Indiana: All best-practice fields are enabled for traditional notarizations. RON journal fields are fully enabled. The fee field reflects Indiana’s $10 traditional maximum and $25 RON maximum. Fingerprint capture is available as an optional feature. Records are retained in encrypted cloud storage well beyond any required minimum.
Separate RON authorization required. An Indiana traditional commission does not automatically permit RON. Notaries must apply for separate RON authorization through INBiz, complete a specialized RON education course and exam, pay the $100 non-refundable authorization fee, and have at least 90 days remaining on their traditional commission. RON authorization expires concurrently with the traditional commission.
SOS-approved vendor required. Indiana RON notaries must use an SOS-approved remote technology vendor. The SOS maintains a list of approved providers. Notaries must notify the SOS within 30 days of changing or adding vendors.
Electronic journal mandatory. Every remote notarial act must be documented in a secure electronic journal. An audio-visual recording of each session must also be created and retained. Indiana RON records must meet the data security standards set by the SOS, which include compliance with NASS standards and 10-year retention for certain records — verify current SOS guidance for the specific retention period applicable to your platform.
Signer location. The notary must be physically in Indiana during all RON sessions. The signer can be located anywhere — within the United States or internationally.
| Indiana Requirement | How NotaryAct Covers It | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional journal (best practice) | Full best-practice journal with all SOS-recommended fields in IN configuration | ✔ |
| RON mandatory electronic journal | Tamper-evident records; entries locked at submission; encrypted cloud storage | ✔ |
| All best-practice traditional journal fields | Date/time, act type, document description, signer name/address/signature, ID method, fee — all enabled | ✔ |
| $10 traditional / $25 RON fee maximum | Fee field reflects correct maximum for the act type | ✔ |
| Barcode scan for signer name/address | Indiana driver’s license barcode scan auto-fills name and address — no manual entry | ✔ |
| Fingerprint — optional | Available as optional field via camera photo or Bluetooth scanner; clearly labeled as voluntary | ✔ |
Other state guides: Illinois · Ohio · Michigan · Texas · All 50 States →
NotaryAct’s Indiana configuration gives you mandatory RON electronic journal compliance and a comprehensive best-practice journal for traditional acts — all in one app, for the full 8 years of your commission. Your records are protected whether you notarize in person or remotely.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Indiana Code Title 33, Article 42 and IC 33-42-17 as in effect June 2026. Consult the Indiana Secretary of State Notary Division at INBiz (inbiz.in.gov) or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
