How long online notarization recordings must be kept, by state
How long the audio-visual recording and the notary's journal must be kept, and by whom.
Researched from primary sources for 44 of 51 jurisdictions and last reviewed 2026-08-31. Each value links the statute, rule, or Secretary of State page it came from, and is reported as that source states it. This describes what the law says; it is not legal advice.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Record retention |
|---|---|---|
| AlaskaAKReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Audiovisual recording kept at least 10 years by the notary or a designated repository (AS 44.50.075(d)); journal kept 10 years by the notary (AS 44.50.078(a)) AS 44.50.075(d); AS 44.50.078(a)(summary) |
| ArizonaAZReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | At least 5 years, held by the notary or a contracted depository (transfers to a depository or the Secretary of State if the notary dies or is incapacitated) A.A.C. R2-12-1308(A),(B),(D),(E); A.R.S. §41-263(E)(summary) |
| ArkansasARReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | The electronic notary who performed the act keeps a secure electronic record (including the audio-visual recording) plus a backup, retained for at least 5 years after the transaction Ark. Code Ann. § 21-14-310(a), (c)(summary) |
| ColoradoCOReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-video recording securely stored for ten years by an approved system or storage provider; the electronic journal stays under the notary's sole control, subject to C.R.S. § 24-21-519 Colorado SOS Notary Public FAQ (Remote notarization, Q12); 8 CCR 1505-11, Rule 5.2.4(b),(d); C.R.S. §§ 24-21-514.5(9)(c), 24-21-519(summary) |
| DelawareDEReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | 10 years for both: the audio-visual recording, retained by the notarial officer (or an approved repository); the journal, retained by the notary (or transmitted to SOS/approved repository) 29 Del. C. §§ 4320(k), 4332(a) |
| District of ColumbiaDCReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | A/V recording: at least 10 yrs, held by the notary or a designated repository (§ 1-1231.13a(j); 17 DCMR § 2420.2). Journal: kept until commission ends, then sent to ONCA (17 DCMR § 2422.1) D.C. Code § 1-1231.13a(j); 17 DCMR § 2420.2, § 2422.1(summary) |
| FloridaFLReviewed 2026-08-23 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for the electronic journal and the audio-video recording Fla. Stat. § 117.245 |
| HawaiiHIReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Journal (tangible/electronic) and, for RON, the audiovisual recording each retained 10 years after the last act recorded; held by the notary public or an AG-approved repository HRS §456-15(a), §456-23(e); HAR §5-11-73(f)(summary) |
| IdahoIDReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording is mandatory, kept ≥10 years by the notary (or guardian/agent/contracted repository) (§51-114A(6)); a session journal is optional, not required (IDAPA 016.01) Idaho Code §51-114A(6); IDAPA 34.07.01.016(summary) |
| IllinoisILReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 7 years for both the electronic journal entry and the audio-video recording, kept by the notary; to a depository or the Secretary of State only if the notary dies or is incapacitated 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.960(a)-(b); 5 ILCS 312/6A-104(d) |
| IndianaINReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | No specific number of years is stated in the SOS guide reviewed; the remote notary must keep the audiovisual recording and electronic journal under their own exclusive control indefinitely, and may not delete, destroy, or overwrite entries unless ordered by the Secretary of State or a court "Audiovisual Recording and Electronic Journal", Indiana Notary Public Guide, Ind. Secretary of State(summary) |
| IowaIAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | No statutory paper-journal mandate (SOS: Iowa law does not require a notary to keep one), but approved RON technology must include an electronic journal (IAC 721—43.9(1)(j)); the audio-visual recording of each remote act must be kept at least 10 years by the notary, the notary's agent, or a designated repository (9B.14A(6)) Iowa Code 9B.14A(6); Iowa Admin. Code 721—43.9(1)(j)(summary) |
| KansasKSReviewed 2026-08-23 | RON authorized | At least 10 years K.S.A. 53-5a15(e) |
| KentuckyKYReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording and journal must be retained ≥10 years, held by the notary (or their guardian/conservator/agent/personal representative), or by a contracted repository (KRS 423.455(5); 30 KAR 8:005 §6(4)) KRS 423.455(5); 30 KAR 8:005 Section 6(4),(8)(summary) |
| LouisianaLAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for both the electronic record and the audio-visual recording, held by the notary or a designated custodian to whom the notary retains unrestricted access R.S. 35:629(summary) |
| MaineMEReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording: at least 10 years, held by the notarial officer or a designated repository. Journal: 10 years after the last entry, held by the notary. 4 M.R.S. § 1915(11); 4 M.R.S. § 1920(1) |
| MarylandMDReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for the audio-visual recording (notary or designated repository) and 10 years for the journal after its last act Md. Code, State Gov't § 18-214(j)(1), (j)(3); § 18-219 |
| MassachusettsMAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording 10 years (notary, representative or designated repository); the journal has no fixed term and is surrendered or destroyed only as directed by law, court order or regulation M.G.L. c. 222, § 28(f); § 22(summary) |
| MichiganMIReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for the journal after its last act and for any audio-visual recording of a remote act; a custodian may hold either MCL 55.286b(7), (9), and (10) |
| MinnesotaMNReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for both the electronic journal and the audio-video recording; held by the notary, or by written agreement the notary's employer or another qualifying repository Minn. Stat. § 358.645, Subd. 4(d) |
| MissouriMOReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Electronic journal entries kept at least 10 years from the entry date; audio-video recording kept at least 10 years; the notary or a designated custodian (employer, or an SOS-standard-meeting repository) holds them RSMo 486.1190.4; 486.1195.2, .4; 15 CSR 30-110.070(2)(B)(summary) |
| MontanaMTReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | 10 years. The audio-visual recording is retained by the notarial officer (or transmitted to an SOS-approved repository); the journal is likewise retained 10 years by the notary, or transmitted to an approved repository (§1-5-618, MCA). §1-5-618, MCA(summary) |
| NebraskaNEReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | The online notary public (not the state) must keep the electronic record, including any audio-video recording, for at least 10 years after the transaction; a backup copy is also required. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 64-409(1)(f), (2)(b), (3) |
| NevadaNVReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-video recording kept by the electronic notary at least 7 years; electronic journal kept under the notary's sole control and, after registration ends, retained 7 more years NRS 240.1995(4); NRS 240.201(2)(b), (7)(summary) |
| New HampshireNHReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for both the audio-visual recording and the journal entry, unless a different period is set by SOS rule; held by the notary (or guardian/representative) or an SOS-approved repository RSA 456-B:6-a, VI; RSA 456-B:8-c, I(summary) |
| New JerseyNJReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording at least 10 years (notary, representative or designated repository); journal 10 years after its last act, or transmitted to the Division of Revenue or an approved repository N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10(l) [P.L.2021, c.179, §19.l]; journal retention at N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.18(d) [§27.d] |
| New MexicoNMReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | 10 years for both: the notary's journal (kept by the notary or transmitted to the Secretary of State/State Records Administrator) and the audiovisual recording (kept by the notary or a designated repository) NMSA 1978 §§ 14-14A-5(F), 14-14A-18(summary) |
| New YorkNYReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 10 years, kept by the notary (secure third-party storage permitted) and producible to the Secretary of State on request N.Y. Exec. Law § 135-c(2)(b); 19 NYCRR 182.8(b), 182.9(b)-(c) |
| North CarolinaNCReviewed 2026-08-24 | Out-of-state notary path | 10 years, held by the notary, under both regimes: RON journal (G.S. 10B-134.15(b)(2)) and EVN journal (G.S. 10B-25(i)); RON recordings also can't be destroyed early. G.S. 10B-25(i); G.S. 10B-134.15(b)(2), (d)(summary) |
| North DakotaNDReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | 10 years for both the audiovisual recording and the notary journal; recording held by the notary (or the notary's guardian/agent/personal representative) or a designated repository (§§44-06.1-13.1(11), 44-06.1-16.1) N.D.C.C. §§ 44-06.1-13.1(11), 44-06.1-16.1 |
| OhioOHReviewed 2026-08-23 | RON authorized | 10 years — the electronic journal, including the identification recordings, goes to the Secretary of State or an approved repository when the authorization ends R.C. 147.65 |
| OklahomaOKReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | At least 10 years for both the audio-visual recording and the journal, held by the notary (or guardian/agent/personal rep) or a designated depository 49 O.S. § 206(D) |
| OregonORReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Audiovisual recording: at least 10 years after it is made, held by the notary or a designated repository (194.277(6)); journal: 10 years after the last act (194.300(1)) ORS 194.277(6); ORS 194.300(1)(summary) |
| PennsylvaniaPAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording: at least 10 years, by the notary or a designated repository; the journal has no fixed term and goes to the county Recorder of Deeds within 30 days when the commission ends 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(e) (recording); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (journal)(summary) |
| Rhode IslandRIReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | The audio-visual recording must be retained at least 10 years by the notary, or by a repository designated on the notary's behalf; the statute does not separately require a paper journal R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-30.1-12.1(e)(summary) |
| TennesseeTNReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Online notary (or a designated custodian/repository) must keep the secure e-record, incl. A/V recording, for at least 5 yrs after the transaction, plus a backup T.C.A. § 8-16-308(a),(c); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1360-07-03-.03(8),(12)(summary) |
| TexasTXReviewed 2026-08-23 | RON authorized | At least 5 years for the electronic record, including the audio-video recording Tex. Gov't Code § 406.108(c) |
| UtahUTReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | 10 years after the last entry, then destroyed/rendered irretrievable; held by the remote notary or a designated custodian (the notary's employer, or an electronic repository under a written agreement) Utah Code § 46-1-13(3); § 46-1-15(2)(b)(summary) |
| VermontVTReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | 7 yrs from the act, per OPR rule (Pt. 8-2(f), eff. 2/26/25), kept by the notary, a guardian/agent, personal rep, or designated repository. Statute default is 10 yrs (§5379(k)) Admin. Rules for Notaries Public, Pt. 8-2(f); 26 V.S.A. § 5379(k)(summary) |
| VirginiaVAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | At least 5 years for the electronic journal record and, where video/audio conference established identity, a copy of the recording — kept by the notary Va. Code § 47.1-14(C)-(D) |
| WashingtonWAReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | Journal 10 years after its last act, under the notary's exclusive control; audio-visual recording of a remote act at least 10 years (notary or designated repository) RCW 42.45.180(1),(5) (journal); RCW 42.45.280(6) (recording) |
| West VirginiaWVReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | Audio-visual recording retained at least 5 years by the notary, the notary's agent, or a repository the notary designates (§39-4-37(f)); RIN recording likewise 5 years, held by the notary or agent, §39-4-38(b)(2) W. Va. Code §39-4-37(f)(summary) |
| WisconsinWIReviewed 2026-08-24 | RON authorized | No separate paper notary journal is required by ch. 140; the audio-visual recording of the notarial act must be retained at least 7 years by the notary (or a repository designated by/on behalf of the notary) Wis. Stat. § 140.145(6) |
| WyomingWYReviewed 2026-08-31 | RON authorized | No fixed number of years is stated in the statute or the Secretary of State's rule; the notary keeps sole possession of the audiovisual recording and sole control of the journal, surrendered only via subpoena, a law-enforcement investigation, or at the Secretary of State's direction (W.S. 32-3-118(b),(c),(f)) W.S. 32-3-118(b),(c),(f); Wyoming SOS Notary Rules Ch. 6 § 3(b), § 4(c)(summary) |
Not researched for this requirement
We have not established this value from a primary source for the following. That is a gap in our research, not a finding that the jurisdiction has no rule.
Compare another requirement
- In force sinceThe date the jurisdiction's remote online notarization provisions took effect, and the act that produced them.
- Identity verificationHow a remotely located signer's identity must be established: personal knowledge, credible witness, or credential analysis plus knowledge-based authentication.
- Signer locationWhere the signer may physically be during the session, including the conditions most states attach to signing from outside the United States.
- Notary fee capThe maximum a notary may charge per remote notarial act, where the jurisdiction sets one. This is the notary's statutory fee, not a platform price.
- Document exclusionsDocument classes the jurisdiction places outside its remote online notarization provisions — most often wills and other estate-planning instruments.
All requirements side by side on the full comparison table, or download the CSV and JSON.