Missouri requires a permanently bound journal for every notarial act. SSNs and credit card numbers are expressly prohibited from entries. RON requires a two-factor-authenticated electronic journal with 10-year A/V recording retention. NotaryAct is state-configured for Missouri — right fields on, prohibited fields blocked, compliance built in.
| ⚖️ Missouri Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | RSMo Chapter 486 · § 486.260 (journal) · § 486.1190 (RON journal) |
| Journal Required? | Yes — every notarial act ✓ |
| Format | Permanently bound book with pre-numbered pages · One active journal at a time |
| Retention Period | 10 years from date of last entry |
| Prohibited Entries | ⛔ No Social Security numbers · No full credit card numbers |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required in journal · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct MO configuration Note: Fingerprints required for applicant background check (RSMo 486.225.7) — not a journal entry requirement |
| RON Electronic Journal | Required — two-factor authentication · No deletions after entry · Backup required ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Required — 10-year retention ✓ |
| County Clerk Qualifying | Required before performing any notarial acts ✓ |
| Max Traditional Fee | $2 per signature (RSMo 486.350) · $1 for other notarial acts · Failure to record in journal bars fee collection |
| RON Fee | Regular notary fee + reasonable agreed technology surcharge |
| Commission Term | 4 years · Must qualify at county clerk before performing first act |
RSMo 486.260 requires every Missouri notary to maintain a permanently bound journal with pre-numbered pages for all notarial acts. The journal must be kept chronologically and only one active journal is permitted at a time. Retention is 10 years from the date of the last entry. Importantly, Missouri’s fee statute ties journal recordkeeping to fee collection — a notary who fails to record a notarization in their journal may not collect the fee for that act.
Two Missouri-specific rules stand out. The SSN and credit card prohibition is explicit — the statute directly names these as prohibited entries regardless of how the information is obtained. And the RON electronic journal requirements (RSMo 486.1190) are among the most technically detailed in the country, requiring two-factor authentication for all access and a backup system in addition to the primary journal.
| 1 | Date and Time Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Notarial Act Acknowledgment, jurat, oath, copy certification, or other. NotaryAct provides a dropdown for all Missouri-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Full Name and Address of Each Signatory NotaryAct’s barcode scanner auto-fills from any Missouri driver’s license. |
| 4 | Identity Verification Method Personal knowledge, OR ID details (type, issuing agency, document number, expiration), OR credible witness details. NotaryAct supports all three. Note: ID number is permitted in MO journal — unlike Illinois or Pennsylvania where numbers are prohibited. |
| 5 | Fee Charged Fee charged, or note that no fee was charged. Missouri’s maximum is $2 per signature / $1 per other notarial act. Failing to record in journal bars fee collection. |
| + | Location of Notarization (if not regular business address) Required only when the notarization occurs away from the notary’s regular business address or residence. NotaryAct includes an optional location field in the Missouri configuration. |
⛔ Prohibited from Missouri journals: Social Security numbers and full credit card numbers may not be recorded in the journal under any circumstances. NotaryAct’s Missouri configuration does not include SSN or credit card fields — these are blocked, not merely optional.
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Missouri: All required fields enabled. SSN and credit card fields blocked. ID number (type, agency, number, expiration) included per Missouri statute — correctly distinguishing from states that prohibit ID numbers. Fingerprint capture available as optional feature, clearly distinct from Missouri’s applicant fingerprint background check requirement.
Missouri authorized RON in August 2020 under RSMo §§ 486.1100–486.1205. RON notaries must register as Electronic Notaries with the SOS. The RON electronic journal requirements under RSMo 486.1190 are technically stringent: all access requires two-factor authentication; journal entries cannot be deleted or altered after storage; a backup system must be in place; and the journal must capture both electronic signatures and one other biometric identifier. The complete A/V recording of each session must be retained for 10 years. The notary may designate an employer or approved repository as custodian of the recordings and journal.
| Missouri Requirement | How NotaryAct Covers It | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Permanently bound journal, one active at a time | Print function produces permanent bound record; one active journal enforced | ✔ |
| All required entry fields including location | All fields enabled in MO configuration; location field included | ✔ |
| SSN and credit card number prohibited | SSN and credit card fields not present in MO configuration — blocked | ✔ |
| 10-year retention from last entry | Encrypted cloud retains records well beyond 10-year minimum | ✔ |
| RON journal — two-factor auth, no deletions, backup | Password/biometric login (two-factor); entries locked at submission; redundant cloud backup | ✔ |
| RON A/V recording — 10-year retention | Cloud storage retains RON recordings for 10-year minimum | ✔ |
Other state guides: Illinois · Kansas · Texas · Ohio · All 50 States →
NotaryAct is state-configured for Missouri — SSN and credit card fields blocked, all required fields enabled, 10-year encrypted cloud retention, and technically compliant two-factor RON electronic journal. Compliance is built in from the first entry.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 486 and the 2025 Missouri Notary Public Handbook as in effect June 2026. Consult the Missouri Secretary of State Business Services Division at sos.mo.gov/business/notary or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
