A resident of New Jersey; or a resident of an adjoining state who regularly works in New Jersey or maintains an office here. A resident who is 18 years of age or older. A person who has been convicted of a crime under the laws of any state or the United States, for an offense involving dishonesty, or a crime of the first or second degree, may only be appointed by the State Treasurer with approval from the Attorney General of New Jersey.

If you filed your application online using NPAFS, you can expect to receive one or more emails that will provide the status of your application. In addition, you can check the status of your application at any time from here by using your Payment Confirmation Number. This number can be found in the email we sent to you after receiving your application. If you filed your application by paper, you may contact our Notary Public Unit to find out the status of your application.

Your commission is void and you will need to file a new application and pay another filing fee.

No. However, it is recommended that you do so.

Yes. Notaries Public in New Jersey may charge the following fees:     

Administering an oath/affirmation: $2.50/ea.

Executing a jurat: $2.50/ea.

Taking proof of a deed (proof of execution): $2.50/ea.

Taking an acknowledgement: $2.50/ea.

Apostilles are state-issued documents that attest to the legal status of notaries public and selected public officials. They are often used in transactions involving international document exchange, including adoption transactions. An apostille is provided if the transaction involves a country that subscribes to the Hague Treaty. In New Jersey the Division of Revenue handles requests for apostilles. The Office of the County Clerk can provide a certificate of Notary Public of a notary that was sworn into office in Middlesex County.  The fee is $5 per certificate.

Notaries public in New Jersey are commissioned for a period of five years. Commissions may be renewed for additional five-year periods. We will mail you a reminder notice before your commission expires providing information about the renewal application process.

Under New Jersey’s new notary public law (P.L. 2021, c. 179), the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) is responsible for implementing various changes designed to modernize the notary commissioning process and general notarial practices in this state. Among the key changes are educational and testing requirements for New Jersey notaries public. Beginning July 2022, the following statutory provisions become effective:

For initial commissions. Non-attorney applicants for initial notary public commissions must provide proof that they have: Completed a six-hour course of study approved by the State Treasurer and passed an examination prescribed by the State Treasurer.

Procedures for compliance with the above provisions will be made available via DORES’ website: nj.gov/njbgs. Please check the site periodically for updates.

For renewed commissions. A commissioned notary public applying to renew a commission who has satisfactorily completed the six-hour course of study and passed an examination prescribed by the State Treasurer at least one time, or those who were commissioned for the first time before the October 22, 2021, effective date of P.L. 2021, c.179 must complete a three-hour continuing education course. Procedures for compliance with this provision will be made available via DORES’ website. Please check the site periodically for updates.