How I handle your information.

I'm a one-person notary practice. I don't sell, rent, or share your personal information. The information I collect is what I need to do the notarization, contact you about it, and meet the recordkeeping requirements Texas law puts on every notary public.

Who this policy applies to

This policy covers Hwy 29 Notary, a sole proprietorship operated by Jerod Johnson in Liberty Hill, Texas. It applies to the website at hwy29notary.com and to the notary services I provide in person and online.

What I collect, and why

From the contact form on this site

When you submit the booking form, the fields you fill in (name, email, phone if you provide it, what you need notarized, and your message) are sent to me through Formspree, a form-handling service. The submission lands in my email inbox. I use it to reply to you and schedule the appointment.

When I notarize for you

Texas law requires every notary public to keep a journal of notarial acts. By statute, each entry must include:

• The date and time of the notarization
• Your name and address
• The type of document signed
• The identification you presented (type, number, issuing agency, expiration)
• Your thumbprint, where statute requires it (typically for documents conveying real property)
• Your signature in the journal

This is a legal record, not marketing data. I'm required to keep it secure, and I'm required to keep it for the period set by Texas law. I do not use the information in my journal for any purpose other than the recordkeeping the state requires.

For loan signings

When I handle a loan signing for a title company or lender, I receive the loan package electronically and process it according to the closing instructions. I scan and return the executed package to the company that sent it. I do not retain copies of the signed documents beyond what is necessary to complete the signing and resolve any post-closing questions.

From the website itself

I use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and use the site. Google Analytics sets cookies in your browser and collects information like pages visited, time on page, approximate location (city level), and the device and browser you're using. This data is aggregated. I cannot use it to identify you individually.

I also use Google Search Console, which is a verification and reporting tool that shows me which searches lead people to the site. Search Console does not place cookies in your browser or track individual visitors.

The site does not run advertising, retargeting pixels, or third-party trackers beyond Google Analytics.

Cookies

The cookies set on this site are limited to those used by Google Analytics for the purposes described above. You can opt out at any time by:

• Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Adjusting cookie settings in your browser to block third-party cookies
• Using a privacy-focused browser or extension that blocks analytics scripts

Blocking analytics cookies will not affect the site's functionality.

How I store and protect information

The notary journal is kept in a locked, fire-resistant location when not in active use, in accordance with Texas Secretary of State guidance.

Email correspondence is stored in Google Workspace (Gmail) with two-factor authentication enabled. Form submissions pass through Formspree's encrypted servers before reaching my inbox.

Loan signing packages are received through encrypted portals provided by the title company or signing service, scanned back through those same portals, and not retained locally after the signing is closed out.

When I share information

I share personal information only when:

• It's necessary to complete the notarial act (for example, returning a signed loan package to the title company that hired me)
• It's required by law (a court order, subpoena, or audit request from the Texas Secretary of State or another authorized agency)
• You ask me to (for example, copying a family member on appointment confirmations)

I do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. I do not share email addresses or phone numbers with marketers.

Your rights

You can ask me what information I have about you, ask me to correct anything inaccurate, or ask me to delete information that isn't required by law for me to retain. Some records, particularly the notary journal entries, are required by Texas statute to be kept for a fixed period and cannot be deleted on request during that period.

If you're a California, Colorado, Virginia, or other state resident with specific rights under your state's privacy law (CCPA/CPRA, CPA, VCDPA, etc.), those rights apply here. Contact me using the information below and I will respond within the timeframe your state law requires.

Children's privacy

This site is intended for adults conducting business. I don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. If a notarization involves a minor (for example, a parental consent or a minor's passport application), the information collected pertains to the parents or guardians and to the minor only to the extent required by the document being signed.

Changes to this policy

If I update this policy, I'll change the "last updated" date at the top of the page. Material changes will be noted at the top of the policy for at least 30 days.