Arizona’s New Notary-Journal Thumbprint Requirement Begins September 26, 2026 Arizona has enacted a new notarial-journal requirement intended to help deter deed fraud and strengthen the record of certain high-risk signings. Beginning September 26, 2026 , a notary handling specified documents must obtain the signer’s fingerprint in the notary journal. The requirement was created by Senate Bill 1479, 57th Legislature, Second Regular Session, Chapter 31 (2026) , which amended A.R.S. § 41-254 . A.R.S. § 41-254 What documents are covered? The new requirement applies when a notarized document is: A deed ; A quitclaim deed ; A deed of trust ; Another document that affects real property ; or A power of attorney . For these documents, the signing party must place the party’s right thumbprint in the notary’s journal. A.R.S. § 41-254(C) If the signer cannot provide a right thumbprint The statute provides alternatives rather than treating the absence of a right thumbprint as an automatic ba...