I am a Colorado notary and notary training instructor.
Montana notary law 1-5-618. Notary public journal — retention requires the notary to keep either a bound paper journal or an electronic journal.
(3) An entry in a journal must be made contemporaneously with performance of the notarial act and contain:
- (a) the date and time of the notarial act;
- (b) a description of the record, if any, and the type of notarial
act;
- (c) the full name and address of each individual for whom the
notarial act is performed;
- (d) the signature of each individual for whom the notarial act is
performed, except that transcripts of depositions and certified
copies do not require the signature of the individual for whom the
notarial act is performed;
The notarial certificate on a document is valid if it complies with the certificate requirements listed in 1-5-609. Certificate of notarial acts. [The notary does not certify that an entry with a signature was made in the notary journal.]
The notary has authority to change the venue in the notarial certificate from Arizona (incorrect) to Montana (correct ). 1-5-609(4) This shows the MT notary was acting within their jurisdiction. [A MT notary may also notarize in the bordering states of Wyoming and North Dakota, by mutual reciprocal agreement, but not in Arizona. 1-5-605(4)]
The notary may not make any changes to the body of the document.
The notary's commission may be suspended or revoked for failing to comply with notary laws or rules. 1-5-621 [Failing to keep a notary journal.]
Failure to make an entry in the notary journal does not invalidate the notarial acts performed. 1-5-624. Validity of notarial acts.