What Is a New Jersey Notary Acknowledgment?
A New Jersey notary acknowledgment is used by notaries public to verify signatures on various legal documents. Document signers don’t need to sign in the notary’s presence, but they must show ID with their signature. The notary confirms the signer’s identity and intent and then completes the form to notarize the document.
A New Jersey notary acknowledgment is not the same as a jurat. With a jurat, the signer must wait until they are in the notary’s presence before signing. A jurat also involves verifying the truthfulness of the document’s contents.
Who Can Complete a Notary Acknowledgment in New Jersey?
According to NJ Rev Stat § 46:14-6.1, the following individuals or entities can take acknowledgments in New Jersey:
- A notary public
- An attorney at law of New Jersey
- A county clerk or deputy county clerk
- A surrogate or deputy surrogate
- A register of deeds and mortgages or a deputy register
What to Include in a New Jersey Notary Acknowledgment
The New Jersey notary acknowledgment requirements vary slightly depending on whether the acknowledgment is a corporate or individual acknowledgment. Both types of acknowledgment require the following information (per NJ Rev Stat § 52:7-19):
- State and county where it was taken
- Date of signing
- The name of the person who is signing the document (typed or written)
- The signature of the notary public or qualified officer (notaries must include their expiration date)
- All signatures must have names printed or typed beneath them
If the form confirms that a company officer signed a legal document on behalf of a corporation, you’ll need to create a New Jersey corporate notary acknowledgment. This includes a statement from the signer confirming their job title and their legal authority to sign on behalf of the company listed as the grantor (NJ Rev Stat § 46:14-2.1).
What if a Deed Is Being Acknowledged in New Jersey?
If a deed is being acknowledged, the following rules apply:
- For corporate notary acknowledgments: The acknowledgment must state the consideration amount. It must match the amount on the front page of the deed.
- For individual notary acknowledgments: The acknowledgment may state the consideration amount.
New Jersey Notary Acknowledgment Sample
View an example of a New Jersey acknowledgment form to better understand its structure and contents. Then, create your own using Legal Templates’s guided questionnaire. You can download the final version in PDF or Word format, which can then be finalized by a notary public.
Is Online Notarization Legal in New Jersey?
Yes, online notarization is legal in New Jersey. NJ Rev Stat § 52:7-10.10 allows electronic and remote notarization. It also specifies the rules to be applied to notarial acts performed by individuals located remotely.
Documents That Typically Require Notarization in New Jersey
Here are some examples of legal documents that typically require a notary public’s acknowledgment in New Jersey:
- Durable power of attorney
- Non-durable power of attorney
- Limited power of attorney
- Real estate power of attorney
- Minor power of attorney
- Power of attorney revocation
- Self-proving affidavit
- Warranty deed
- Quitclaim deed
- Living trust
Not all legal documents are statutorily required to be notarized. However, acknowledgment from a notary public can increase the validity of certain financial and personal documents. Consider seeking acknowledgment for the following documents:
