NOTARY PUBLIC-REAL ESTATE

Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State to appoint and commission real estate notaries public to perform notarial acts involving real property documents. Requires that persons seeking appointment as real estate notaries public submit to criminal background checks. Requires that a notary public keep a journal as to notarization of documents concerning real property. Specifies the information to be entered in the journal in order to identify the witnesses who or documents that affirmed the identity of persons whose acknowledgements were notarized. Specifies the manner in which the journal must be kept and the conditions under which journal entries must be disclosed. Makes violations by a notary public punishable by fines imposed by the Secretary of State and revocation of the notary's commission. Makes a notary public's official misconduct with respect to real property documents a Class 2 felony. Makes impersonation of a notary public a Class 1 felony (now, a Class A misdemeanor). Makes unlawful possession of a notary's official seal a Class 2 felony (now, a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $1,000). Amends the Conveyances Act. Provides that rights and interests shall (now, may) be acknowledged or proved before specified courts or officers. Provides that when the acknowledgement or proving is outside Illinois but within the United States and its territories, the notary public must be in substantial compliance with the Illinois Notary Public Act.