Kansas requires a journal for every notarial act since January 1, 2022. One tangible journal at a time; electronic journals permitted concurrently. 10-year retention. Fees charged must be disclosed, agreed to, and recorded. RON requires detailed journal entries and A/V recording. NotaryAct is state-configured for Kansas — all required fields on.
| ⚖️ Kansas Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | KSA 53-5a20 (journal) · RULONA SB 106, eff. January 1, 2022 · K.A.R. 7-43 |
| Journal Required? | Yes — every notarial act since January 1, 2022 ✓ |
| Tangible Format | One at a time — permanent, bound register with numbered pages ✓ |
| Electronic Format | One or more permitted · Permanent, tamper-evident, compliant with SOS rules |
| Retention Period | 10 years after last notarial act in journal |
| Lost / Stolen | Promptly notify SOS on discovering loss or theft |
| Fee Recording Requirement | Fee must be disclosed, agreed to by signer, and recorded in journal ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct KS configuration |
| RON Journal + A/V | Mandatory detailed journal entry + A/V recording for all RON acts ✓ |
| RON Registration | $20 fee · SOS-approved platform · SOS-approved training/exam required |
| Bond | $12,000 surety bond (increased from $7,500 effective January 1, 2022) |
| Commission Term | 4 years · No exam for traditional commission |
Kansas notaries are required to maintain a notary journal since January 1, 2022, under KSA 53-5a20. The requirement applies to all notarial acts — acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, signature witnessings, and copy certifications. Kansas is a RULONA state, adopting the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts via SB 106 in 2021.
The fee recording rule is noteworthy: any fee charged must be disclosed to the signer and agreed to before the act, the signer must be informed the fee is permitted but not required by law, and the fee must be recorded in the journal. This creates a direct nexus between fee collection and journal compliance.
Under KSA 53-5a20, each journal entry must contain: the date and time of the notarial act; a description of the record and type of notarial act; the full name and address of each individual; the method of identity verification; and the fee charged.
| 1 | Date and Time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Description and Type of Act — Document description and act type. NotaryAct provides a dropdown for all Kansas-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Full Name and Address — Auto-filled by NotaryAct’s barcode scanner from any Kansas driver’s license. |
| 4 | Identity Verification Method — Personal knowledge statement, satisfactory evidence (credential type, issuer, expiration), or credible witness details. NotaryAct supports all three. |
| 5 | Fee Charged — Required whenever a fee is charged; must confirm signer agreed and was informed fee is not required by law. NotaryAct includes this field. |
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Kansas: All KSA 53-5a20 required fields enabled. Tamper-evident electronic journal satisfies both the tangible (via print function) and electronic format requirements. 10-year cloud retention built in.
Other state guides: Missouri · Oklahoma · Colorado · Iowa · All 50 States →
NotaryAct is state-configured for Kansas — all KSA 53-5a20 required fields enabled, fee disclosure field included, 10-year encrypted cloud retention, and full RON electronic journal support.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects KSA Chapter 53, Article 5a and KAR Agency 7, Article 43 as in effect June 2026. Consult the Kansas Secretary of State Notary Division at sos.ks.gov or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
