HB511 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Notary Public, official records, register required to be kept and delivered to probate judge at end of commission, Sec. 36-20-74.1 added

Summary

HB511 would require Alabama notaries to keep a journal of all notarizations and turn the journal over to the county probate judge when they leave office or die.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill requires notaries to maintain a journal of all official acts. It allows notaries or former notaries to provide certified copies from the journal on request, with payment of fees and a signed request specifying names, document type, and date. It requires the journal to be delivered to the judge of probate in the county where the notary received a commission within 30 days after death, resignation, removal, or expiration of the term, and adds this as new law (36-20-74.1) with an effective date three months after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Notary publics: must keep a journal of all notarizations and deliver it to the county judge of probate when leaving office or dying; may be asked to provide certified copies from the journal.
• Former notary publics: can be asked to provide certified copies from the journal under the same terms as current notaries.
• Judges of probate: will receive the notary journals within 30 days of the notary's death, resignation, removal, or term expiration.
• Members of the public who need certified copies of notarial acts: can obtain certified copies from the journal by paying fees and submitting a signed request with required details.

Key Provisions

• Notaries must keep a journal register of all official acts.
• Notaries or former notaries must provide certified copies from the journal on request, with fees and a signed written request including the parties' names, document type, and month/year notarized.
• Upon death, resignation, removal, or term expiration, the journal must be delivered to the judge of probate of the county within 30 days.
• Adds Section 36-20-74.1 to Alabama Code and establishes an effective date: the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Notaries Public