T/F: When executing an electronic notarization, the notary public is not required to attach or
associate the notary certificate and stamp with the electronic notarization. - FALSE!
An electronic notarization involves the use of electronic signatures, digital certificates, and
electronic seals.
T/F: A notary must retain the notary's journal for 5 years after the last notarization act. - FALSE!
A notary must retain the notary's journal for 10 years after the last notarization act OR transmit
the journal to the Department of the Treasury or a repository approved by the Treasurer.
T/F: The notary public may allow another person use the notary public's stamp at any time. -
FALSE!
This would be a violation of professional duties.
T/F: A notary public is a person legally authorized to serve as an impartial witness. - TRUE!
A Notary Public is a public officer of the State of New Jersey who serves as an impartial witness
to the signing of documents and to the acknowledgement of signatures on documents. (NJ
Notary FAQ)
T/F: Notaries may not use electronic technology to notarize wills, codicils, and testimony trusts.
- FALSE!
In 2021, the Assembly Judiciary Committee amended the bill to remove the exclusion pertaining
to wills and codicils, so that remote notarization through the use of communication technology
could be used for executing these records... as long as the notarial act is performed in
accordance with the bill's requirements for remote notarization.
T/F: A person convicted of a crime in the second degree or above can never be granted notary
commission. - TRUE!
A person convicted of any crime in NJ or the United States can never be granted notary
commission.
, T/F: A notary located in this state may perform a notary act using tamper-evident technology if
the individual requesting the act appears remotely. - TRUE!
A notarial officer located in this State may perform a notarial act using a tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears in person or remotely before the notarial
officer at the time of the act. (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.16)
T/F: Personal knowledge is a satisfactory form of identification. A notary has personal
knowledge of a signer if a friend pointed an individual out to a notary during a social gathering. -
FALSE!
Personal knowledge alone is not a satisfactory form of identification for a notary public. In order
to properly identify a signer or witness, a notary public typically relies on valid identification
documents such as driver's licenses, passports, or other government-issued identification.
Notaries are bound by legal requirements to verify the identity of signers and witnesses using
reliable forms of identification to ensure the integrity of the notarization process.
T/F: To complete a notarization, it is enough for a notary to place a stamp on the record and sign
it. - FALSE!
There are several steps outside of stamping and signing that completes the notarization.
1. Verify identity
2. Ensure person understands what is being notarized
3. Administer an oath or affirmation and record action in journal
4. Stamp and sign
5. Record notarization in journal
T/F: If the state treasurer denies an application for notary public, the applicant has no right of
appeal. - FALSE!
Applicant has the right to appeal (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.7). The appeal could involve
submitting a written request for reconsideration, providing additional documentation, or even
pursuing a formal appeal process before a higher authority.
associate the notary certificate and stamp with the electronic notarization. - FALSE!
An electronic notarization involves the use of electronic signatures, digital certificates, and
electronic seals.
T/F: A notary must retain the notary's journal for 5 years after the last notarization act. - FALSE!
A notary must retain the notary's journal for 10 years after the last notarization act OR transmit
the journal to the Department of the Treasury or a repository approved by the Treasurer.
T/F: The notary public may allow another person use the notary public's stamp at any time. -
FALSE!
This would be a violation of professional duties.
T/F: A notary public is a person legally authorized to serve as an impartial witness. - TRUE!
A Notary Public is a public officer of the State of New Jersey who serves as an impartial witness
to the signing of documents and to the acknowledgement of signatures on documents. (NJ
Notary FAQ)
T/F: Notaries may not use electronic technology to notarize wills, codicils, and testimony trusts.
- FALSE!
In 2021, the Assembly Judiciary Committee amended the bill to remove the exclusion pertaining
to wills and codicils, so that remote notarization through the use of communication technology
could be used for executing these records... as long as the notarial act is performed in
accordance with the bill's requirements for remote notarization.
T/F: A person convicted of a crime in the second degree or above can never be granted notary
commission. - TRUE!
A person convicted of any crime in NJ or the United States can never be granted notary
commission.
, T/F: A notary located in this state may perform a notary act using tamper-evident technology if
the individual requesting the act appears remotely. - TRUE!
A notarial officer located in this State may perform a notarial act using a tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears in person or remotely before the notarial
officer at the time of the act. (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.16)
T/F: Personal knowledge is a satisfactory form of identification. A notary has personal
knowledge of a signer if a friend pointed an individual out to a notary during a social gathering. -
FALSE!
Personal knowledge alone is not a satisfactory form of identification for a notary public. In order
to properly identify a signer or witness, a notary public typically relies on valid identification
documents such as driver's licenses, passports, or other government-issued identification.
Notaries are bound by legal requirements to verify the identity of signers and witnesses using
reliable forms of identification to ensure the integrity of the notarization process.
T/F: To complete a notarization, it is enough for a notary to place a stamp on the record and sign
it. - FALSE!
There are several steps outside of stamping and signing that completes the notarization.
1. Verify identity
2. Ensure person understands what is being notarized
3. Administer an oath or affirmation and record action in journal
4. Stamp and sign
5. Record notarization in journal
T/F: If the state treasurer denies an application for notary public, the applicant has no right of
appeal. - FALSE!
Applicant has the right to appeal (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.7). The appeal could involve
submitting a written request for reconsideration, providing additional documentation, or even
pursuing a formal appeal process before a higher authority.
