Notary Journal, Records, and Seal/Stamp Requirements
The seal (stamp)
Arkansas requires an official seal, applied legibly, showing the notary's name exactly as commissioned, the words "Notary Public," "State of Arkansas," the county, and the commission expiration date, plus the commission number where required. The impression must reproduce clearly on photocopies and recorded instruments, which is why an inked stamp is the practical default; if an embosser is used, an accompanying ink impression is expected on recorded documents. The seal is yours, not your employer's: keep control of it, and stop using it the moment the commission lapses. If it is lost or stolen, report it to the Secretary of State and obtain a replacement rather than reusing a compromised die.
The journal
Arkansas practice requires a journal of notarial acts. A defensible entry is made at the time of the act and records the date and time, the type of act, the title or description of the record, the signer's name and address, the signer's signature, how identity was verified, and the fee charged. Keep the journal secure and confidential, produce it to the Secretary of State on request, and retain it for the period the statute sets (commonly ten years). At the end of a commission the journal is not personal property to discard; it is delivered as the Act directs.
Traps
Questions blur the two records: a journal entry never substitutes for a proper certificate and seal, and a perfect certificate never excuses a missing journal entry. Another favorite is recording more personal data (Social Security or ID numbers) than the Act requires.
Rule of thumb
One act, one journal entry, one certificate, one seal impression - same date, same signer.