Oregon requires a journal for all notarial acts under ORS 194.300 with 10-year retention. The journal is NOT a public record — exempt from disclosure except to the SOS or by court order. Employer journal agreements permitted. RON: mandatory electronic journal + 10-year A/V retention; SOS approval required. Training + exam required for all commissions. No bond. NotaryAct state-configured for Oregon.
| ⚖️ Oregon Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | ORS Chapter 194 (RULONA) · § 194.300 (journal) · OAR Ch. 160, Div. 100 (RON rules) |
| Journal Required? | Yes — all notarial acts (except protests and verifications upon oath) ✓ |
| Journal Format | Tangible: permanent bound numbered-page register · Electronic: tamper-evident, SOS-compliant |
| Retention Period | 10 years from last notarial act in journal |
| Journal Privacy | NOT a public record — exempt from disclosure except to SOS or by court order (ORS 194.300[9]) ✓ |
| Employer Agreement | Permitted — employer may retain journal under signed OAR 160-100-0360 agreement ✓ |
| Copies Prohibited | Do NOT keep copies of ID documents or notarized documents — journal entry is sufficient ✓ |
| RON Electronic Journal | Mandatory for every RON act — electronic journal with signer e-signature ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Mandatory — retained 10 years ✓ |
| RON Authorization | Must notify SOS via RON Notice form · Await SOS approval before first RON · Mandatory free SOS RON training ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · No copies of IDs permitted · Optional fingerprint in NotaryAct OR config |
| Training + Exam | Required for ALL commissions (initial and renewal) — SOS-approved course ✓ |
| Surety Bond | Not required |
| Max Fees | $10 per traditional act · $25 per RON act · Travel fees by agreement · Fee schedule must be displayed |
| Commission Term | 4 years · Application fee up to $40 |
Oregon adopted RULONA under 2013 c.219 and requires a contemporaneous journal entry for every notarial act — with only two narrow statutory exceptions (protests under ORS 194.380 and verifications upon oath or affirmation, where a journal is permitted but not required). The journal is Oregon’s primary fraud-prevention mechanism for real estate and financial transactions.
Oregon’s journal-is-not-public-record rule is a distinctive privacy protection. Under ORS 194.300(9), most notaries are exempt from disclosing journal contents to anyone except the SOS Corporation Division or when ordered by a court. This means attorneys, clients, and third parties generally cannot demand access to a notary’s journal, though a notary may voluntarily share entries.
The employer journal agreement (OAR 160-100-0360) addresses a common workplace situation: an employer pays for the notary’s commission and stamp in exchange for the employer retaining the journal. The agreement must be signed. If the notary leaves employment, the employer retains the existing journal and the notary starts fresh with a new one.
| 1 | Date and time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Description of record and type of notarial act — Acknowledgment, jurat, signature witnessing, copy certification, protest. NotaryAct covers all Oregon-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Full name and address of each individual — Auto-filled via barcode scanner from any Oregon driver’s license. |
| 4 | Identity verification method — Personal knowledge, satisfactory evidence (ID type and details), or credible witness. IDs acceptable if current or expired no more than 3 years. NotaryAct supports all methods. |
| 5 | Signer’s signature — Required in every Oregon journal entry. NotaryAct captures electronic signature during session. |
| 6 | Fee charged (max $10 traditional / $25 RON) — Required. Must also display fee schedule at place of business. NotaryAct fee field in every entry. |
⛔ Oregon Prohibitions: Do NOT keep copies of the documents notarized or copies of identification documents. The journal entry itself is legally sufficient evidence of the notarial act and the identification method used. NotaryAct stores journal metadata only — no document image storage.
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Oregon: All six required journal fields including mandatory signer signature. Tamper-evident electronic format meeting Oregon SOS standards. 10-year retention for both journal and RON A/V sessions. Employer agreement workflow supported. No document or ID image storage. Fingerprint capture available as optional feature.
Other state guides: Washington · California · Idaho · Colorado · All 50 States →
NotaryAct’s Oregon configuration delivers mandatory journal compliance for every act — including the signer signature field — plus RON electronic journal, 10-year A/V retention, and employer agreement support. Your journal stays private; only the SOS and courts can request it.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 194 (RULONA) and Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 160, Division 100 as in effect June 2026. Consult the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division at sos.oregon.gov/business or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
