For Notaries · New Jersey
How to Become a Notary in New Jersey
To become a notary in New Jersey, you must be at least 18 and a New Jersey resident (or work in the state). No surety bond is required. Non-attorneys complete a six-hour course and pass a state exam, then file a $25 application with the Division of Revenue. Commissions last five years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in New Jersey. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in New Jersey or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
New Jersey commissions its notaries through the Department of the Treasury's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), with the State Treasurer making the appointment. Unlike many states, New Jersey does not require a surety bond, but it does require most applicants to complete a six-hour course and pass a state exam, and every application must be endorsed by a State Legislator before it reaches DORES. After you file the $25 application, you swear your Oath of Office at your County Clerk within 90 days. Commissions run five years, and since October 2021 New Jersey notaries can also register to perform remote online notarizations.
New Jersey Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old and either a New Jersey resident or a resident of an adjoining state who regularly works in New Jersey or maintains an office here. Anyone convicted of a crime involving dishonesty, or a first- or second-degree crime, can only be appointed with special approval from the State Treasurer and the Attorney General of New Jersey. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Not required. New Jersey does not require notaries to purchase a surety bond. Carrying your own errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and protects you personally, but the state mandates no bond to be commissioned. |
| State filing fee | $25 (plus a $5 convenience fee if filing online; plus a separate $15 County Clerk fee for the Oath of Office) |
| Commission term | 5 years |
| Notary education | A six-hour course of study approved by the State Treasurer is required for non-attorney applicants; reviewing the official New Jersey Notary Public Manual is used to satisfy this requirement. Attorneys are exempt. Renewing notaries take a three-hour continuing-education course. |
| Exam | Required for non-attorneys. You must pass the notary examination prescribed by the State Treasurer before you are commissioned. Licensed New Jersey attorneys are exempt from the exam. |
New Jersey notary commissions are issued for a five-year term, the state charges a $25 non-refundable application fee (plus a $5 convenience fee for online filing) and a separate $15 County Clerk fee for the Oath of Office, and no surety bond is required. — NJ Treasury — Notary Public Program FAQ
How to Become a Notary in New Jersey: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18 and a New Jersey resident, or a resident of an adjoining state who regularly works in or maintains a business in New Jersey. You must have no disqualifying criminal conviction; crimes of dishonesty or first- or second-degree crimes require special approval from the State Treasurer and Attorney General.
- 2
Complete the six-hour course and pass the state exam
If you are not a licensed New Jersey attorney, complete a six-hour notary course approved by the State Treasurer and pass the state notary exam. Reviewing the official New Jersey Notary Public Manual is used to satisfy the course requirement. Attorneys are exempt from both the course and the exam.
- 3
File your application (with a State Legislator endorsement) and $25 fee
New Jersey applications must be endorsed by a State Legislator before filing. Apply through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) online system, where legislators endorse electronically, and pay the $25 filing fee plus a $5 convenience fee for online filing. No surety bond is required.
- 4
Swear your Oath of Office at the County Clerk within 90 days
After DORES processes your application, you are mailed a Commission Packet. Within 90 days, take it to your County Clerk's office to swear the Notary Public Oath of Office and pay a $15 recording fee. Miss the 90-day window and your commission is void — you must reapply and pay again.
- 5
Start notarizing and add remote online notarization
Your commission lasts five years. Order a notary stamp; keeping a journal is recommended. To notarize remotely, register to add remote and electronic notarization through the DORES portal and use an approved communication-technology vendor, then join USA Notary to receive paid remote online signings.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in New Jersey
New Jersey permanently authorized remote online notarization effective October 20, 2021, under P.L. 2021, c. 179. You must first hold an active New Jersey notary commission, then register to add remote and electronic notarization through the DORES online portal and use an approved communication-technology vendor that performs identity proofing (verifying the remote signer over live audio-visual technology). Notaries must keep a record of each remote notarization, including an audio-visual recording, for the retention period set by the law.
Online / remote notary application fee: No separate state registration fee is documented in the official FAQ or law — you add remote/electronic notarization by updating your commission record through the DORES portal; communication-technology and vendor costs are separate.
RON operative since October 20, 2021 (P.L. 2021, c. 179); commissioned notaries update their records via the DORES portal to offer it.
See how RON is authorized in New Jersey — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the New Jersey remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in New Jersey instead? Notarize online with a New Jersey commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in New Jersey
New Jersey allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a New Jersey commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in New Jersey? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in New Jersey?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application (filing) fee | $25 (non-refundable) |
| Online convenience fee | $5 (if filing online) |
| County Clerk Oath of Office fee | $15 |
| Surety bond | Not required |
| Six-hour course & state exam | Varies by provider (manual review may satisfy the course) |
| Notary stamp & supplies | Varies |
See what USA Notary costs a New Jersey notary for platform-side details.
What a New Jersey Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. New Jersey caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $2.50 (RE $15) |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $2.50–$25 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how New Jersey compares with every other state in the how New Jersey fees compare across all 50 states.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in New Jersey
Commission term in New Jersey
5 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your New Jersey Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How New Jersey notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for New Jersey notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Does New Jersey require a surety bond to become a notary?
No. New Jersey does not require notaries to buy a surety bond. Your only mandatory state costs are the $25 application fee (plus a $5 convenience fee if you file online) and the $15 County Clerk oath fee. Errors-and-omissions insurance is optional.
How long is a New Jersey notary commission valid?
Five years. New Jersey notary commissions are issued for a five-year term and can be renewed for additional five-year periods. DORES mails a reminder notice before your commission expires.
Do I have to take a course and exam to become a New Jersey notary?
Non-attorney applicants must complete a six-hour course approved by the State Treasurer and pass a state exam before being commissioned. Reviewing the official New Jersey Notary Public Manual satisfies the course requirement. Licensed New Jersey attorneys are exempt.
Why does my New Jersey notary application need a State Legislator's endorsement?
New Jersey law requires every notary application to be endorsed by a State Legislator before it is filed with DORES. If you apply online, a legislator endorses your application electronically, so you usually do not need to track one down yourself.
Can I be a remote online notary in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey permanently authorized remote online notarization on October 20, 2021. You must first hold an active New Jersey commission, then register to add remote and electronic notarization through the DORES portal and use an approved communication-technology vendor that verifies signers' identities over live audio-visual technology.
How much does it cost to become a notary in New Jersey?
Budget the $25 state filing fee (plus a $5 convenience fee if you file online) and a $15 fee paid to your County Clerk for the Oath of Office. There is no bond requirement. Course, exam, and stamp costs vary by provider.
How much can a notary charge in New Jersey?
New Jersey's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $2.50 (RE $15), per act or signature.
How much can a New Jersey notary charge for online notarization?
New Jersey's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $2.50–$25, against $2.50 (RE $15) in person.
When does a New Jersey notary commission expire?
The New Jersey commission term is: 5 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the New Jersey cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what a New Jersey loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby Mid-Atlantic guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- NJ Treasury, Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services — Notary Public Law
- NJ Treasury — Notary Public Program FAQ (PDF)
- NJ Treasury — New Notary Educational and Testing Requirements
- American Society of Notaries — New Jersey State Information
This guide summarizes public requirements from New Jersey's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.