| The story is incomplete. It appears to have looked only at provisions in the notary section of state laws. But states like mine that have nothing about journal inspection or copying in the notary law may have a separate public records law. I corresponded with the head of the archives section of the secretary of state's office, and was told that while Vermont notaries do not have to keep journals, if they do, they are public records, and are subject to inspection (unless the entry qualifies for one of the public record exceptions, which is a long, difficult-to-interpret list). However, the notary is not required to make and mail copies, so could require the person who wants to inspect the journal to appear in person. |
