Arizona notaries should be aware of an important new journal requirement affecting certain real estate and property-related notarizations.

Under recent Arizona law updates, notaries are now required to obtain a signer’s thumbprint in their notary journal when notarizing certain documents affecting real property, including deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and some powers of attorney related to real estate transactions. (LegiScan)

The new requirement is intended to help combat deed fraud and strengthen protections for property owners, title companies, and notaries. Real estate fraud involving forged signatures and fraudulent property transfers has become an increasing concern nationwide, and Arizona’s updated law adds another layer of verification and accountability. (PoliScore)

When notarizing qualifying documents, the signer must place their right thumbprint in the notary journal. If the signer cannot provide a right thumbprint, another finger may be used and noted accordingly in the journal. If the signer is physically unable to provide a fingerprint, the notary should document the reason in the journal record. (LegiScan)

The law does include certain exceptions, including:

• Trustee’s deeds resulting from foreclosure
• Deeds of release and reconveyance

Arizona notaries should carefully review the statute and official guidance to determine when thumbprints are required for specific transactions. (LegiScan)

Many traditional notary journals currently in circulation do not include a designated area for signer thumbprints. As a result, many Arizona notaries may now need to adjust how they document qualifying transactions.

Professional journal layouts that include:

• signer thumbprint sections
• witness thumbprint sections
• organized ID tracking
• document detail sections
• note areas

can help simplify recordkeeping and improve organization during signings.

As a working Arizona notary, I previously designed my journals with dedicated thumbprint areas to support more detailed documentation and stronger recordkeeping practices. With Arizona’s updated requirements, these layouts may now be especially useful for notaries handling real estate and estate planning transactions.

Notary laws and best practices continue to evolve, especially in the areas of fraud prevention, identity verification, and real estate transactions. Arizona notaries should regularly review updates from the Arizona Secretary of State and maintain journals that support clear, organized, and professional documentation practices.

For additional information regarding Arizona notary laws and requirements, visit the Arizona Secretary of State Notary Division.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Notaries should independently verify all legal requirements with the Arizona Secretary of State.transactions. 

You can find the law here: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2R/laws/0031.htm