A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In New Jersey, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in New Jersey, an applicant must meet certain eligibility requirements such as being at least 18 years old, a resident of New Jersey or a resident of an adjoining state who maintains, or is regularly employed in, an office within New Jersey. The process does not require the applicant to take a notary training course or pass a state notary exam, which is different from some other states. However, they must submit an application, pay the required fee, and take an oath of office once their application is approved. Notaries in New Jersey are authorized to perform various notarial acts including administering oaths and affirmations, taking affidavits and depositions, and witnessing or attesting signatures. The state provides guidelines on the proper conduct for notaries, including maintaining a notary journal and following rules regarding the notarization of documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and real estate documents.