Why should you complete the journal entry before performing the notarial act?

• A. This prevents the signer from walking away with the document before it is recorded
• B. It helps avoid delays
• C. It preserves the document
• D. It ensures the signer signs correctly

Answer: (A)

In Maryland, the journal is the official, contemporaneous record of every notarial act. Recording details like who appeared, how they were identified, the date and time, the type of act, and the document involved creates a verifiable trail that accompanies the act itself. Completing the journal entry before performing the notarial act ensures this record exists before the document leaves your custody, so the signer cannot walk away with the document without the act being documented and identity verified. This practice protects against loss of evidence and potential disputes about whether the act occurred or who was present. The other options address delays, preservation of the document, or the signing process itself, but they don’t confront the essential need for a documented, verifiable record tied to the signer and the notarial act.