Under Section 3-102, in which Illinois county must residential real property be located for the Notarial Record requirements of that Section to apply?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(a)
Illinois Notary Exam · Journal
Illinois Notary Exam Practice Questions: Journal and Records (2026)
An Illinois notary must keep a journal of every notarial act, recording each act at the time of notarization, under 5 ILCS 312/3-107 and 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.900(a). The journal may be paper or electronic, and a notary may keep more than one. A separate, stricter rule, 5 ILCS 312/3-102, applies to documents that convey title to residential real property in Cook County: there the notary creates a notarial record, takes the signer's right thumbprint, and delivers the record within set deadlines.
Practice
Free practice questions
On and after what date do subsections (a) through (i) of Section 3-102 (the Notarial Record for residential real property) no longer apply?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(k)
As defined in Section 3-102, "Residential Real Property" means a building or buildings in Cook County containing how many dwelling units (or an individual residential condominium unit)?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(b)(4)
Under the Section 3-102 definitions, which of the following is included within the meaning of "Financial Institution"?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(b)(2)
Under Section 3-102, the "Notarial Record" is defined as what?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(b)(3)
Among the contents required for a Section 3-102 Notarial Record, what number used to identify the residential real property must be recorded?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(2)
Which of the following must the Section 3-102 Notarial Record contain about each person whose signature is the subject of the notarial act?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(3)
Regarding the notary's own information, what must the Section 3-102 Notarial Record include?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(5)
For a Section 3-102 Notarial Record, which thumbprint is the notary first required to obtain from the signer?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(6)
Under Section 3-102, if a signer's right thumbprint is not available for the Notarial Record, what must the notary do?
Based on: 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(6)
The journal you must keep
Illinois requires a journal for every act, and the exam tests its form and your duties around it. Under 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.900(a) every notary public must record each notarial act in a journal at the time of notarization. The form is flexible: under 5 ILCS 312/3-107(c) a notary may maintain the journal in either paper or electronic form and may keep more than one journal. There is a privacy limit: under 5 ILCS 312/3-107(a) the journal must not include any electronic signatures of the person for whom an electronic notarial act was performed or of any witnesses. The required entries are set by rule. Under 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.910(a) each entry records details including whether the notarization was conducted in person, remotely or electronically, while identifying numbers and biometrics are prohibited entries. The journal belongs to the notary, not the employer: under 5 ILCS 312/3-107(d) a notary must not surrender the journal to an employer when employment ceases, and the employer must not retain it. Storage and access are controlled too: 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.940(a) requires the journal, when not in use, to be kept in a secure location accessible only to the notary, and 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.950(a) permits a person to inspect an entry only if the person's identity is personally known to the notary or proven through satisfactory evidence. If the journal is lost, stolen or compromised, 5 ILCS 312/3-107(e) requires the notary to notify the Secretary of State within 10 business days after discovery.
The Cook County notarial record and thumbprint
One topic catches candidates out because it applies only in one county. Under 5 ILCS 312/3-102 a special notarial record is required for a notarial act involving a document of conveyance that transfers title to residential real property located in Cook County. Residential real property here means a building or buildings in Cook County containing one to four dwelling units, or an individual residential condominium unit. The notarial record must contain specific items: under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(2) the property index number used to identify the property for assessment or taxation, plus the common street address; under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(3) the signature, printed name and residence street address of each person whose signature is the subject of the act; and under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(5) the notary's own home or business phone number, residence street address and commission expiration date. The thumbprint rule is heavily tested: under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(6) the notary must require the signer to place the signer's right thumbprint on the record, using the left thumb or any available finger only if the right thumb is not available. Delivery deadlines depend on who the notary is. Under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(d) a notary who is an employee of a title insurance company, financial institution or attorney delivers the original record to the employer within 14 days, while under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(e) a notary who is not such an employee delivers it to the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County.
| Point | Journal (every act) | Cook County record (3-102) |
|---|---|---|
| When it applies | Every notarial act | Conveyance of Cook County residential property |
| Thumbprint | Not required | Right thumbprint required (3-102(c)(6)) |
| Form | Paper or electronic (3-107(c)) | Written notarial record (3-102) |
| Where it goes | Kept by the notary (3-107(d)) | Employer in 14 days, or Cook County Recorder (3-102(d),(e)) |
| Loss reporting | Notify Secretary within 10 business days (3-107(e)) | Recorder notifies the signer on breach (3-102(j)) |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does an Illinois notary have to keep a journal?
Yes. Under 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.900(a) and 5 ILCS 312/3-107, an Illinois notary must record each notarial act in a journal at the time of notarization. The journal may be paper or electronic, and a notary may keep more than one. It must not include the electronic signatures of the signer or any witnesses.
What must an Illinois notary do if the journal is lost or stolen?
Under 5 ILCS 312/3-107(e), if an Illinois notary's journal is lost, stolen or compromised, the notary must notify the Secretary of State within 10 business days after discovery of the loss, theft or breach of security. When not in use, the journal must be kept in a secure location accessible only to the notary under 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.940(a).
What is the Cook County notarial record and thumbprint rule?
Under 5 ILCS 312/3-102, a notarial act conveying title to residential real property in Cook County requires a separate notarial record, and under 5 ILCS 312/3-102(c)(6) the notary must require the signer to place the signer's right thumbprint on the record. The left thumb or any available finger is used only if the right thumb is unavailable.
Who keeps the journal if an Illinois notary leaves a job?
Under 5 ILCS 312/3-107(d), an Illinois notary must not surrender the journal to an employer when employment ceases, and the employer must not retain it. The journal is the notary's own record. A Cook County notarial record, by contrast, follows the delivery rules in 5 ILCS 312/3-102(d) and (e).