Inspection, Copying and Disposal of Journal

(a)Except as otherwise provided in subsection

(e)of this section, and notwithstanding 5 GCA, Chapter 10 or any other law, a journal of notarial acts is an official public record that may be inspected only in the notary’s presence by an individual whose identity is personally known to the notary or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence, who specifies the notarial act sought, and who signs the notary’s journal.

(b)Upon request in compliance with subsection

(a)of this section, the notary shall provide a photocopy of an entry in the journal at a cost of not more then Five Dollars ($5) per photocopy. If a certified photocopy is requested, the cost is as specified in Section 33310 of this Chapter.

(c)A notary shall safeguard the journal and other notarial records as valuable public documents and never destroy them, except at the direction of the Attorney General.

(d)The journal must be kept in the exclusive custody of the notary, and may not be used by any other notary or surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment.

(e)Upon the request of the Attorney General or upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of a notarial commission, or death of the notary, whichever comes first, the notarial journal shall be delivered by personal service, certified mail or other means providing a receipt to the Attorney General’s office.