How to Become a Notary Public in New Jersey

There is a fee to apply for an NJ Notary Public commission. It costs $25 to file a paper application and $30 to file an online application. Additional costs for Notary tools vary depending on vendors. There are county fees for filing your bond, signature and commission. The cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary.

Other expenses to factor in are your Notary stamp and journal; applicants will also need to add in the cost of the state-required course and exam. Applicants registering on or after July 22, 2022, will need to add in the cost of the state-required course and exam.

Supply package prices vary among vendors. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

It can take four to six weeks to become commissioned as an NJ Notary Public. This depends on your availability and the time the State Treasurer needs to process your application. This also depends on how long it takes to read through the handbook, take the course and pass the exam.

The term of a New Jersey Notary commission is five years.

A Notary Public applicant in New Jersey must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a resident of New Jersey or employed by a company that has a primary place of business in NJ even if you perform your duties remote from home or from a coworking place
• Not have been convicted of a crime under the laws of any state or of the U.S. for an offense involving dishonesty, or a crime of the first or second degree

Nonresident applicants may apply for an NJ Notary commission granted they are an employee of a business whose domicile or primary place of business is in New Jersey and performs their employment duties remotely from a home office or a co-working space.

Starting on October 22, 2022, new Notaries must take a course and pass an exam. The required course focuses on the statutes, rules, procedures, and ethican requirements documented in the state of New Jersey Notary Manual.

The State Treasurer will offer online courses and the required exam. The test is $15.

New Jersey Notaries must use a rubber stamp ink seal and journal for all notarial acts for paper documents.

Notaries are required to use a stamp. The stamp must display the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public, State of New Jersey"
• Your commission expiration date

A journal to record all notarial acts is required. The journal may be in a tangible medium that is a permanent, bound register with consecutively numbered lines and pages or in an electronic format that is permanent and tamper-evident.

A surety bond is not required for Notaries in NJ. Surety bonds protect the public from financial harm if the Notary acts improperly or is negligent. Many Notaries choose to purchase an optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to protect themselves from possible legal costs or damages if their notarial acts are called into question.

The New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), located in Trenton, NJ, appoints and commissions Notaries Public. The Department of the Treasury's Notary Public Unit processes Notary applications and handles Notary-related matters in NJ.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become a New Jersey Notary Public. You must, however, be a legal resident of the state, or be employed within the state and meet all other application requirements.

No. A New Jersey Notary can only perform notarial acts within the state's borders.

Any member of the public, as long as the request meets all statutory requirements for notarization.

Notaries are prohibited from notarizing 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.

New Jersey authorizes Notaries to charge a maximum fee of $2.50 per notarial act.

The maximum fee will be set by the State Treasurer. The amount has yet to be determined, but we'll provide this information when it becomes available.

You must report any changes to your address or name to the State Treasurer's Division of Revenue. You can do so by submitting a change request online. There is no fee for an address change, but there is a $25 fee for a name change.

The renewal process in New Jersey is similar to the process to become a Notary. The state will send you a renewal package three months prior to your commission expiration date.

Notaries renewing on or after July 22, 2022, must take a state-approved continuing education course.

Starting on October 22, 2021, New Jersey will allow remote online notarization. Notaries with an active commission may take an acknowledgment of a signature on a tangible record and notarize tangible wills or codicils remotely. Here is a detailed guide on becoming a remote online Notary in New Jersey.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.