New Jersey
Abbr: NJ
3rd State
Statehood—December 18, 1787
Eligibility:
All applicants must meet all of the requirements listed below:
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Qualifications:
Be 18 years of age or older
Be a resident of the state of New Jersey
Receive the endorsement of a member of the Legislature,
Secretary of State, or Assistant Secretary of State
Not have been convicted of a crime under the laws of any
state in the United States for an offense involving
dishonesty or a crime of the first or second degree
In order to receive a notary public commission, a person must:
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Meet the eligibility requirements
Properly complete and submit notary application form to
the Office of the State Treasurer with a $25 filing fee. Click
here to download the application form-www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/dcr/programs/notary.html
Take the Commission Certificate and the Oath
Qualification Certificate provided by the Notary Public
Section to the County Clerk of the county in which the
applicant resides—or, if a non-resident applicant, to the
county clerk were the notary is employed—within 3
months of the date listed on the commission certificate
with a fee of $15. Failure to meet the 3-month-limit will
result in the cancellation of the appointment, and the
County Clerk will return the Oath Qualification
Certificate to the Notary Public Section.
Non-Residents:
Non-resident applicants must be residents of an adjoining state and
maintain, or be regularly employed in, an office in New Jersey.
Non-resident applicants must also file an affidavit with the
application to the Treasurer setting forth their residence and
address of the office or place of employment in New Jersey.
Bond:
None Required.
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Errors & Omissions Insurance:
Optional. The American Association of Notaries
recommends that Illinois notaries insure themselves
against claims of negligence through Errors and
Omission insurance.
Filing Fee:
A $25 filing fee is required for new and renewal notary
applications.
Term:
5 years
Jurisdiction:
Statewide
Appointment:
Secretary of State, State Treasurer
Department of the Treasury
Division of Revenue, Notary Public Unit,
PO Box 452
Trenton, NJ 08646-0452
(609) 292-9292
www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/dcr/programs/notary.html
Expedited over-the-counter service available for an additional
$15.00 fee:
Notary Public Unit,
225 West State Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608-1001
Renewals:
A notary public may apply 90 days before the expiration of
his or her current commission by completing a renewal
application form. The state sends out renewal packages
three months prior to the commission expiration date.
Education/Testing:
None Required.
Notary Seal:
None Required. New Jersey notaries public are encouraged
to authenticate every notarial act with a seal of office that
contains pertinent notary information. New
Jersey notaries public are also encouraged to use a metal
embosser seal for notarized documents going out of state. If
the notary public does not have a seal of office, his or her
name and commission expiration date must be printed or
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typed on the notarial certificate. To order a notary seal,
please contact us by calling (800) 721-2663 or visit our
website at www.usnotaries.com.
Record Book:
Recommended by the Secretary of State and the American
Association of Notaries. For notary supplies contact the
American Association of Notaries by calling (800) 7212663 or visiting our website at www.usnotaries.com.
Notary Fees:
Notary fees are set by state law. A notary public is allowed
to charge for each notarial act, but not more than:
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Authority:
Acknowledgments
Oaths and affirmations
Jurats
Protests
Taking proof of a deed
$2.50
$2.50
$2.50
$2.50
$2.50
A New Jersey notary public has the authority to:
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Take acknowledgments
Administer oaths and affirmations
Execute jurats
Protest instruments
Take proofs of deeds
Change of Address:
Whenever a notary public changes his address, he must
notify the State Treasurer and County Clerk of the county
in which he resides by submitting a form furnished by the
State Treasurer. Any non-resident notary public must also
file a change of address of residence or of his office or
place of employment to the State Treasurer and county
clerk in which he has an office or place of employment.
Click here to download the Change of Address form-http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/changenotary.htm
Name Change:
If a notary public adopts a different name, before notarizing
any documents, the notary must notify the State Treasurer
and County Clerk of the county in which the notary resides
by submitting a Name Change form with a $25 filing fee. If
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the notary needs a written proof, there is an additional fee
of $1. Click here to download the Name Change form-http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/changenotary.htm
Prohibited Acts:
A notary public may not:
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Criminal Violation:
Prepare, draft, select, or give legal advice regarding
the preparation of legal documents or forms
Render assistance by giving advice or by preparing,
reviewing, analyzing, or completing any forms,
writings, pleadings, or other documents in person,
in writing, electronically or otherwise
Represent persons in legal proceedings
Represent persons in the collection of delinquent
bills or claims
Pre-date an action
Lend a journal, stamp, or other personalized notary
equipment to another individual
Notarize a document without the signer being in the
notary’s presence
Notarize documents in which he or she has a
personal interest
Notaries public who commit official misconduct may be
subject to criminal liability, which may include the
revocation of their notary public commissions.
Revised: October 2009
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