NJ Notary - New Jersey Notary Journal and Seal Requirements Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following pieces of information is NOT required to be included on a New Jersey notary's official stamp?

Accepted Answer

The notary's commission ID number

Answer

New Jersey law requires the notary's official stamp to include their name, the title 'Notary Public, State of New Jersey,' and the commission expiration date. The notary's commission ID number is not a required element.

Question 2

A New Jersey notary performs a notarial act. According to state law, which of the following is a mandatory action the notary must take?

Accepted Answer

Record the transaction in a permanently bound journal.

Answer

New Jersey law mandates that every notary public must keep a journal of all notarial acts performed. The journal can be a physical, permanently bound book or a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format. While ink color, fees, and thumbprints are aspects of notarization in some states, only the journal is a universal requirement in New Jersey (with a limited exception for attorneys using regular business records).

Question 3

A notary's official stamp is lost or stolen. What is the required procedure according to New Jersey regulations?

Accepted Answer

Notify the State Treasurer via the DORES website within 10 days.

Answer

If a notary's stamping device is lost or stolen, New Jersey law requires the notary to notify the State Treasurer's office through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) website within 10 days of discovering the loss or theft.

Question 4

When maintaining a physical (tangible) journal, New Jersey law specifies that it must be:

Accepted Answer

A permanent, bound register with consecutively numbered pages.

Answer

For notaries who choose to maintain a physical journal, New Jersey law is specific: it must be a permanent, bound register with consecutively numbered lines and pages to ensure its integrity and prevent tampering.

Question 5

A New Jersey notary is asked to notarize a document for a close friend they have known for over 20 years. When recording the act in the journal, how should the notary identify the signer?

Accepted Answer

By including a statement that identity was based on personal knowledge.

Answer

When a notary identifies a signer through personal knowledge, the journal entry must include a statement to that effect. While recording an ID is a valid method of identification, it's not required if the notary has personal knowledge of the signer's identity.

NJ Notary - New Jersey Notary Exam Practice Test

NJ Notary - New Jersey Notary Exam Practice Test

NJ Notary - New Jersey Notary Journal and Seal Requirements Questions and Answers