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Big changes coming to New Jersey Notaries on October 22

Female hand writing in journal

Permanent remote online notarization and required stamp and journal are just a few changes Notaries in New Jersey can expect come October 22, 2021. Keep reading to learn what's new under NJ Assembly 4250.

Commission qualifications

Out-of-state applicants may now apply for a New Jersey Notary commission. Previously, nonresident applicants had to live in either New York, Pennsylvania or Delaware. The new statute no longer limits nonresident applicants to those adjoining states, but they must be an employee of a business whose domicile or primary place of business is in NJ and performs their employment duties remotely from a home office or co-working space.

Required stamp and journal

Once optional, a rubber stamp ink seal and journal are now required for all notarial acts.

Stamps must include your name, the phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" and your commission expiration date.

Journals may be a permanent, bound register with consecutively numbered lines and pages or in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format. The State Treasurer limits Notaries to using only one journal at a time to record notarial acts whether they involve tangible or electronic documents. The following information must be recorded for each notarial act:

  • Date and time of the notarial act
  • Type of notarial act, including but not limited to the taking of an acknowledgment, the taking of a proof of a deed, the administration of an oath, or the taking of an affidavit
  • Name and address of each person for whom the notarial act is performed
  • Statement indicating if the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge
  • Brief description of the method of identification if the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence as well as the identification credential presented
    • If any and applicable, include the type, date of issuance, and date of expiration of an identification document, or the name and signature of any identifying witness and, if applicable, the type, date of issuance, and date of expiration of a document identifying the witness
  • Itemized list of all fees charged for the notarial act

Notaries must either keep their journals for 10 years after performing the last notarization recorded in the journal or transmit the journal to the Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, or a repository approved by the State Treasurer.

Infographic on Notary journal features

New Notarial acts

Notaries may now perform the following notarial acts within the state of New Jersey:

  1. Certifying copies of documents and depositions
  2. Certifying papered out electronic records
  3. Witnessing or attesting a signature

Prohibited acts

Notaries will no longer be able to notarize documents in which the Notary or the Notary's spouse or civil union partner is a party or in which either of them has a direct beneficial interest.

Notary fees

Notaries may continue charging a fee per notarial act, but the maximum amount has yet to be determined by the State Treasurer. We'll update this page once more information becomes available.

Remote notarization

New Jersey will authorize the remote notarization of both paper and electronic records. Signers may send Notaries the physical documents to the Notary or upload their documents through a RON provider and complete the notarial act online.

NJ Notaries may notarize documents for signers in any location, but the Notaries themselves must be physically present within the state during the notarization. To become a remote Notary in New Jersey, your commission must be active and you must notify the State Treasurer prior to performing your first remote notarial act.

Looking ahead

Starting July 22, 2022, educational training and exam will be required of new and renewing Notaries. Part of the application process will include acknowledging you have read the Notary Public Manual, taking a course and passing an exam. The course and exam may be taken with the State Treasurer or an approved education provider.

Rachel Fraser is the Content Marketing Specialist at the National Notary Association.

View All: Laws & Regulations

61 Comments

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BINOY PATEL

28 Aug 2024

I have a Jurat app for journal that is ok ?

National Notary Association

03 Sep 2024

Hello. We're sorry, but we're not clear what you mean by a "jurat app," can you please provide a more detailed description?

Chantelle Marroquin

14 May 2024

If a Notary commission expiration date has expired on the stamp, but the Notary has been renewed, can the Notary just cross out the expired date and write the new one in on the stamp copy on the acknowledgement?

National Notary Association

08 Nov 2024

No. The law indicates that the Notary seal is required by law and that is must have the expiration date. (NJSA 52:7-10.5.a)

Shirley McGovern

07 Nov 2023

I have been a notary public in NJ for decades and renew when it is up. I work for an attorney and only use my notary when working for the law firm. Do I need to keep a journal. I notarize deeds, wills, powers of attorney

National Notary Association

08 Nov 2023

Hello. In New Jersey, “In lieu of maintaining a journal, a notary public who is an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in this State, or who is employed by an attorney-at-law, or who is employed by or acting as an agent for a title insurance company licensed to do business in this State pursuant to P.L.2001, c.210 (C.17:22A-26 et seq.), may maintain a record of notarial acts in the form of files regularly maintained for the attorney’s law practice or the title insurance company’s business activities, as the case may be” (NJSA 52:7-10.18.g).

CV

18 Oct 2023

In NJ . How do you properly keep 1 journal for physical and electronic notarization utilizating a log book? Already approved for both types of notarization.

National Notary Association

19 Jan 2024

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

Jeanine Francis

05 Oct 2023

Hi- no, it would be remote from office to office.

National Notary Association

06 Oct 2023

Thank you. Before performing remote notarizations, you would need to contract with a remote notarization provider that meets state requirements. Please see here for more information on other NJ requirements and procedures: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/new-jersey

Jeanine Francis

05 Oct 2023

Hi- I am a notary in NJ. Can I notarize a document signed by someone in NY ? I work in NJ, my company has a NY office as well.

National Notary Association

05 Oct 2023

Hello. Would the signer appear in person before you in New Jersey for the notarization, or are you being asked to travel to New York to perform the notarization?

Denise Giurlando

05 Oct 2023

My notary public commission expires 10/12/2023. I submitted a renewal application on 10/5/2023. Can I continue my notary duties while I wait to receive the commission packet and take the oath?

National Notary Association

09 Oct 2023

Hello. To help us answer your question can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

W H

26 Aug 2023

how do i inform the secretary of state of the first RON?

National Notary Association

28 Aug 2023

Hello. Please see here for guidelines for remote notarization in New Jersey: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/new-jersey

Car

22 Aug 2023

I have a 2009 POA signed by attorney but no stamp. Is this still valid?

National Notary Association

24 Aug 2023

Hello. You would need to contact an attorney to answer any questions about the current legal status of a power of attorney document.

Ang

19 Aug 2023

Hello, what documents can a notary not notarize, apart from family, spouse, children, etc.? NJ notary can notarize any type of document? Thanks

National Notary Association

21 Aug 2023

Hello. New Jersey Notaries are authorized to perform the following notarial acts (NJSA 22A:4-14 and 52:7-10.1.f), except as otherwise noted): Take acknowledgments and proofs; Administer oaths and affirmations; Take verifications on oath or affirmation; Witness or attest signatures; Certify or attest a copy or deposition; Note protests; Take depositions (NJ Court Rules, Rule 4:12-1); Witness the opening of safe deposit boxes (NJSA 17:14A-51).

Linda Lordi

09 Aug 2023

Can I take the CE class online?

National Notary Association

19 Jan 2024

The state of NJ is not offering continuing education. You are only required to review the Notary Public manual. Per the NJ website https://www.njportal.com/DOR/NotaryExam/, to meet these requirements, you must: read the New Jersey Notary Public Manual thoroughly, attest that you have read the manual (At this time, reading the manual satisfies the requirement for course work. In the future, the Division will enhance the course work by including materials and content.) and pass the Notary Public Online Exam.

Tracy

05 Aug 2023

Can a NJ attorney still notarize a document without a stamp?

National Notary Association

07 Aug 2023

Hello. No, all NJ Notaries are required to use an official stamp when notarizing.

Pete W

27 Jun 2023

As an attorney, what is used as the commission expiration date?

National Notary Association

30 Jun 2023

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

Miss Melissa

15 Jun 2023

Hi! I recently went to renew my notary a week after it expired because I missed the day. I did the oath on June 6th and its now the 15th and I am still inactive. How long do I have to wait for my commission to become active?

National Notary Association

10 Jul 2023

Hello. Did you renew your commission through the NNA? If so, please contact our Customer Care team at services@nationalnotary.org for assistance. Otherwise, you can contact the NJ Division of Revenue here: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/revgencode.shtml

C. Kmosko

17 May 2023

I have been a notary in the State of NJ since 2009. My commission expires in December 2024. Before I can renew next year, do I have to complete the education course? If so, will I be notified beforehand? Do you know if the course can be completed remotely? Thanks.

National Notary Association

17 Jul 2023

Hello. Your state will send you a renewal notice 90 days before the expiration of your current license. Per the state, if you are an active Notary Public and need to renew, you are not required to take the Notary Public Exam and are only required to submit your Notary Renewal Application. For more information, please see here: https://www.njportal.com/DOR/Notary/Renewal

D. Robinson

17 May 2023

I have been a notary public in Nj for some time now and to the best of my knowledge I need all the pages of the documents before I notarized. I was recently told by someone that I don’t need them just the page that have to get notarized. What is the correct answer

National Notary Association

17 May 2023

Hello. You should never notarize an incomplete document or one with pages missing.

msaiya07@gmail.com

11 May 2023

Are able to notarize in nj for friends

Van Hawk

28 Mar 2023

As a newly commissioned notary in the state of NJ, do I still need to purchase a stamp and journal if I only plan on performing RON?

National Notary Association

28 Apr 2023

Hello. In New Jersey, “'Official stamp' means a physical image affixed to or embossed on a tangible record or an electronic image attached to, or logically associated with, an electronic record” (NJSA 52:7-10.1.I). You will need a physical official stamp as well as an electronic official stamp if you intend to perform any traditional pen-and-paper notarizations. All New Jersey Notaries must maintain a journal (NJSA 52:7-10.18.a). You may keep an electronic journal, but it must meet the following requirements: “If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it shall be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with any rules and regulations promulgated by the State Treasurer” (NJSA 52:7-10.18.a[4]).. The only exception for keeping a journal is as follows: “In lieu of maintaining a journal, a notary public who is an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in this State, or who is employed by an attorney-at-law, or who is employed by or acting as an agent for a title insurance company licensed to do business in this State pursuant to P.L.2001, c.210 (C.17:22A-26 et seq.), may maintain a record of notarial acts in the form of files regularly maintained for the attorney’s law practice or the title insurance company’s business activities, as the case may be” (NJSA 52:7-10.18.g).

Elle

13 Feb 2023

Can the stamp say just "New Jersey" or does it have to absolutely say "State of New Jersey"?

National Notary Association

23 Mar 2023

New Jersey law indicates the following: “The official stamp of a notary public shall: “(1) include the name of the notary public, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey,” and the notary public’s commission expiration date; and “(2) be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated” (NJSA 52:7-10.5.a).

Cheryl

23 Jan 2023

Hi. Under 13. Section 10 of P.L.1979, c 460 (C.52:7-19) under 10. Certificate of Notarial Act : a. (3) identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed; What does that particular term "jurisdiction" require to identify it?? If notarial act is in NJ, then does it just mean to have stated ..State of New Jersey ..for jurisdiction identification?? Or is it an ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT to ALSO identify the name of the New Jersey County in which the notarial Act is performed? Is it a problem if the New Jersey county name is not filled in and/or included as part of the jurisdiction identification? Thank you.

National Notary Association

23 Jan 2023

Hello. When completing New Jersey certificate wording, the New Jersey Notary should enter the state (New Jersey) and the county where the notarization was performed. (See (NJSA 52:7-10.12.a through e).

Lori Carr

01 Nov 2022

I've been a NJ notary since 9/2001. I am a freelance court reporter who needs the notary to work. Am I correct that I only have to read the Notary booklet, acknowledge that I've read it, and take the 3-hour CE course? I am also a NJ CSR.

National Notary Association

09 Nov 2022

Hello. Thank you for reaching out. One of our Customer Care Representatives will be contacting you shortly to provide you with more information.

Anton

31 Oct 2022

If the seal does not included the "notary's name", can this be rejected or deemed as invalid?

National Notary Association

10 Nov 2022

Hello. As stated in the article, New Jersey Notary stamps must include your name, the phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" and your commission expiration date under the new law.

andrea n

08 Oct 2022

I have been a nj ccr for 30 years. several years back they passed a statute saying we are a notary just by being a csr. i lost the paper that said that. any info from anyone on that?

National Notary Association

10 Oct 2022

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

Gina Costello

06 Oct 2022

So, no stamps that say, expiration date only. Meaning the one where the date is hand written in. I have a hand written in one, and a separate rubber stamp with the date too.

National Notary Association

06 Oct 2022

Again, please see the information in the reply above.

costellogina1191@gmail.com

17 Sep 2022

With the October 22, 2022 NJ changes, can I have a stamp that has the word expiration written on it, but the date has to be hand written?

National Notary Association

06 Oct 2022

No. New Jersey law indicates the following: “The official stamp of a notary public shall: “(1) include the name of the notary public, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey,” and the notary public’s commission expiration date; and “(2) be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated” (NJSA 52:7-10.5.a).

Manolito Ramirez

25 Jul 2022

Where & how can i get my commission number for notary public?

National Notary Association

10 Aug 2022

Hello. Just to clarify, are you seeking to apply for a Notary commission, or do you hold an existing Notary commission? Also, can you please confirm what state you are located in?

schislersigningservice@gmail.com

21 Feb 2022

Hello - I have a rectangular self inking stamp that includes my name, notary public, state of New Jersey, ID number and commission expiration date. I also have a round embossing seal with my name and notary public state of New Jersey. With the new changes, do I need to purchase a new round seal that is self inking instead of embossing or does my rectangular stamp take the place of the embosser. Thank you

National Notary Association

22 Mar 2022

An embosser is not required to be used in New Jersey. A Notary seal (ink or embosser) must include the following information in New Jersey: “The official stamp of a notary public shall: “(1) include the name of the notary public, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey,” and the notary public’s commission expiration date; and “(2) be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated” (NJSA 52:7-10.5.a).

Jessica

28 Jan 2022

I am an NJ notary, who renewed in April 2021. I first became a notary in 2016. The statute states that continuing education is the only requirement for those who have already renewed before October 2021 (and acknowledging the review of the manual), no? Can I continue to use my notary license until it expires in 2026 and then handle the education?

National Notary Association

22 Mar 2022

Effective July 22, 2022, non-attorney applicants for an initial Notary commission and renewal applicants for a commission who have previously completed the educational requirements or were commissioned before October 20, 2021, must comply with the educational requirements that the State Treasurer will set forth in rules (NJSA 52:7-10.10.2.b and c, effective July 22, 2022).

Andrea Cocula

04 Jan 2022

Where is the notary course being given,? What does the course cost?

National Notary Association

08 Apr 2022

Hello. New Jersey's Notary application requirements are scheduled to change on July 22, 2022. Please see here for more information: https://www.nationalnotary.org/new-jersey

arodri515@icloud.com

16 Nov 2021

What verbiage (if any) will be required to be used for various notarial acts performed using RON in NJ?

National Notary Association

17 Nov 2021

Hello. You can find more information about RON in New Jersey here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/new-jersey

Yvette Ambrose

04 Oct 2021

Where can I get the Notary Public Manual?

National Notary Association

06 Oct 2021

Hello. You can find a link to the Jan. 2021 edition here: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/pdf/NotaryPublicManual.pdf. Please be aware that this version pf the manual does not appear to have been updated yet with the new law changes taking effect Oct. 20, 2021.

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