NJ NOTARY Study Guide 2026

Telephone administration of oaths is not authorized in NJ. The signer must be physically present or, for RON, present via audio-visual technology — not by telephone alone.

Because E&O insurance is not mandated by New Jersey law, there are no statutory coverage minimums; the notary selects the coverage limit that best suits their practice and risk exposure.

When an error is discovered, the notary should contact the relevant parties and follow proper procedures for correction, which may include re-performing the notarial act with a corrected certificate.

A New Jersey notary public who is not a licensed attorney is strictly prohibited from giving legal advice. This constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. Authorized notarial acts include taking acknowledgments, administering oaths, taking verifications, witnessing signatures, and certifying copies.

A notary public who is not an attorney is strictly prohibited from giving legal advice. Recommending a specific notarial certificate, such as a jurat over an acknowledgment, constitutes giving legal advice because it involves interpreting the needs of the document and the legal effect of the certificate. Notaries may only explain the features of the different notarial acts, but the signer must choose.

The New Jersey Notary Public Manual requires that for each notarial act, the journal entry must include the signature, printed name, and address of each signer, and if applicable, each witness. This creates a clear and complete record of who identified the signer.