NotaryCentral Electronic Journal (E-Journal) vs Jurat Inc. Electronic Journal (E-Journal) vs Paper Journal: A Practical Comparison
The notary journal serves as the official record of your notarizations, protecting both you and the public. Traditionally, notaries used hardbound paper journals, but electronic journal (e-journal) solutions—like NotaryCentral’s Electronic Journal (E-Journal) and Jurat Inc.’s Electronic Journal (E-Journal)—offer modern advantages in compliance, accuracy, and efficiency.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature / Capability | NotaryCentral Electronic Journal (E-Journal) | Jurat Inc. Electronic Journal (E-Journal) | Paper Journal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Guardrails | State-specific validations and required fields; automatically hides prohibited fields (e.g., no ID numbers in Texas) | Minimal guardrails; more manual entry, higher risk of errors | Manual, relies on the notary’s knowledge; easy to record non-compliant info |
| Required Field Prompts | Guided workflow ensures all mandatory details are captured | Limited guidance; more manual recall required | Notary must remember each field; mistakes or omissions are common |
| Thumbprint Capture | Digital, non-messy, stored with entry | Digital | Ink pads can stain or smear; thumbprints may be inconsistent |
| Offline Access & Backups | Works without internet; creates daily local backups | Requires active login to app; tends to log users out | Physical book only; loss, theft, or damage can erase records |
| Tamper Evidence | Entries are hash-sealed with automatic timestamps | Varies by tool; not always tamper-evident | Pages can be altered or removed without detection |
| Sensitive Info Handling | Hide or omit fields per state rules; photo-based ID capture with redaction | Allows hiding sensitive info | All data is visible; sensitive info must be manually guarded |
| Witness & Interpreter Sections | Dedicated fields with state-specific requirements | Witness fields included; interpreters must be added via freeform notes (messy, editable later) | Often entered in freeform notes; easy to overlook |
| ID Photo Capture & Extraction | Yes, with automatic data extraction | Yes | No |
| Special Notes (e.g., "On Decease") | Yes | No | Yes (manual entry) |
| Cost | $20/year with unlimited entries | $168/year with unlimited entries | ~ $30 per 300 entries; buying new books adds up |
| Receipts & Reporting | Generates digital receipts and exports | Generates digital receipts | Manual receipt writing or none at all |
| Training & Support | Built-in tutorials, FAQ, and state guidance | Limited training resources | None inherent to the journal; relies on external resources |
| Ease of Authenticity Proof | High — tamper-evident hash strategy + timestamps | Medium — depends on the platform | Low — alterations are undetectable |
1. Compliance & Accuracy
- NotaryCentral Electronic Journal (E-Journal): State-specific required fields, auto-validation, and hidden prohibited fields (e.g., no ID numbers in Texas).
- Jurat Inc. Electronic Journal (E-Journal): Limited safeguards; relies more on user knowledge and manual compliance checks.
- Paper Journal: Fully manual compliance; high chance of omissions or prohibited entries.
2. Security & Privacy
- NotaryCentral E-Journal: Tamper-evident entries with timestamps; optional ID photo capture with redaction.
- Jurat Inc. E-Journal: May have some security features, but depends on the platform—tamper evidence not always guaranteed.
- Paper Journal: Easily altered, lost, or stolen; full exposure of sensitive data.
3. Convenience & Accessibility
- NotaryCentral E-Journal: Offline functionality, daily device backups, dedicated interpreter/witness fields.
- Jurat Inc. E-Journal: Must remain logged in; app logs out often; interpreters require manual note entry.
- Paper Journal: Requires handwriting; no backup; mistakes are permanent.
4. Automation & Efficiency
- NotaryCentral E-Journal: Automated prompts, receipt generation, ID extraction, and digital thumbprints.
- Jurat Inc. E-Journal: Offers receipts and digital thumbprints, but lacks advanced prompts and offline resilience.
- Paper Journal: Fully manual process; no automation.
5. Cost & Scalability
- NotaryCentral E-Journal: $20/year — cost-effective for high-volume notaries.
- Jurat Inc. E-Journal: $168/year — significantly more expensive for equivalent usage.
- Paper Journal: ~$30 per 300 entries — recurring purchases required.
6. Unique NotaryCentral E-Journal Features
- ID photo capture with automatic data extraction.
- “On decease” note field.
- State-specific compliance prompts.
- Daily local device backups.
- Built-in training materials.
Conclusion
While paper journals remain acceptable in many states, their manual nature and lack of security safeguards increase the risk of errors and privacy breaches. Jurat Inc.’s Electronic Journal (E-Journal) offers a digital alternative but comes at a significantly higher annual cost with fewer compliance guardrails and offline capabilities.
NotaryCentral’s Electronic Journal (E-Journal) combines rigorous compliance checks, strong tamper evidence, offline reliability, and cost efficiency, making it the most practical and secure choice for modern notaries.
Disclaimer: Always consult your state’s guidelines before proceeding, as rules and regulations may change. This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.