Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Holly R, VP of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Sales, against the New Jersey Notary Public Manual and N.J.S.A. 52:7-10 et seq. on 20 September 2026 · Updated 20 September 2026
New Jersey requires every notarial act to be evidenced by a certificate and stamped. The stamp must carry your name, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey” and your commission expiration date, and it is affixed to or embossed on the certificate near your signature, clear and readable (N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5). New Jersey sets no size, shape or ink color. This guide covers the wording, the embosser rule, what to do if a stamp is lost, and how to order.
New Jersey notary stamp requirements at a glance
| Requirement | New Jersey rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp required | Yes, on every notarial certificate | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Required wording | Notary’s name; “Notary Public, State of New Jersey”; commission expiration date | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Size and shape | Not specified | NJ Notary Public Manual |
| Ink color | Not specified | NJ Notary Public Manual |
| Embosser | Permitted as an alternative: “affixed to or embossed on” | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Placement | Near the notary’s signature, clear and readable | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Electronic records | Stamp attached to or logically associated with the certificate | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Lost or stolen stamp | Notify the State Treasurer within 10 calendar days | NJ Notary Public Manual |
| Commissioning authority | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Dept. of the Treasury | P.L. 2021 c.179 |
Rules for other states are on notary stamp requirements by state.
Is a notary stamp required in New Jersey?
Yes. Under the notary law rewritten by P.L. 2021 c.179, all notarial acts are evidenced by a certificate and stamped by the notary public. There is no category of New Jersey notarial act that skips the stamp.
For a tangible record the stamp goes near your signature and must be clear and readable. For an electronic record it is attached to or logically associated with the certificate.
What must appear on a New Jersey notary stamp?
The statutory list is short and complete: your name as notary public, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey”, and your commission expiration date.
Note what is not on that list. New Jersey does not require a commission number or a county on the stamp, which is why New Jersey stamps are usually three lines rather than five. See New Jersey notary stamp law explained.
What size and shape must a New Jersey notary stamp be?
Neither is specified. The requirement is functional rather than dimensional: clear, readable, and near your signature.
Because the wording is only three lines, a rectangular stamp of roughly 1 by 2.5 inches leaves the text comfortably legible without crowding the certificate block. Notary public stamps are made to that convention.
What ink color is required for a New Jersey notary stamp?
None. Choose a color that survives copying and scanning, since a stamp that is not readable on the copy defeats the purpose. Black and dark blue are the usual choices, and some notaries prefer blue so an original is distinguishable from a photocopy.
More on the trade-off in stamp ink color rules.
Is a notary embosser required or optional in New Jersey?
Optional, but New Jersey treats it more generously than most states. The statute says the stamp may be “affixed to or embossed on” the certificate, which makes an embossed impression an accepted alternative rather than only a decorative addition.
The practical caution still applies: an embossed impression must be clear and readable, and a raised impression can be hard to read on a photocopy or a scan. Many New Jersey notaries carry both and reach for the embosser when a receiving party asks for it. Notary embossing seal kits and inked stamp kits cover both. See also notary stamp vs. embosser.
Do I need a new stamp when my commission is renewed or my name changes?
Yes, on renewal. Your commission expiration date is printed on the stamp, so when the commission is renewed that date changes and the old stamp is out of date. The New Jersey manual does not spell out a replacement procedure, so the practical step is to order the new stamp once you have the new expiration date.
A name change has the same effect, because the stamp carries your name as notary public.
What do I do if my New Jersey notary stamp is lost or stolen?
Notify the State Treasurer within 10 calendar days of the loss or theft, through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The notary or the notary’s personal representative makes the notification.
That deadline is firm and is one of the few hard numbers in the New Jersey seal rules. For retiring an old stamp, see how to dispose of an expired notary stamp.
Related New Jersey guides
Next step
Have your commission expiration date in front of you before you order, since it goes on the stamp and a wrong date means a reorder. Then browse notary public stamps, or contact us and we will check your three lines against the statutory wording before we make it.
Frequently asked questions about New Jersey notary seals
Is a notary stamp required in New Jersey?
Yes. Every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate and stamped by the notary public. For a paper record the stamp is affixed to or embossed on the certificate near your signature, clear and readable (N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5).
What has to appear on a New Jersey notary stamp?
Three things: your name as notary public, the title “Notary Public, State of New Jersey”, and your commission expiration date. That is the complete statutory list.
What size and shape must a New Jersey notary stamp be?
New Jersey specifies neither. The statute requires that the stamp be clear and readable near your signature, and nothing about dimensions or shape.
What ink color is required for a New Jersey notary stamp?
No color is specified. Pick one that stays legible when the document is copied or scanned; black and dark blue are the usual choices.
Can I use an embosser in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey is unusual in this: the statute says the stamp may be “affixed to or embossed on” the certificate, so an embossed impression is an accepted alternative rather than only a supplement. It still has to be clear and readable.
What do I do if my New Jersey notary stamp is lost or stolen?
Notify the State Treasurer within 10 calendar days of the loss or theft. The notary or their personal representative makes the notification through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
Do I need a new stamp when my New Jersey commission is renewed?
Your stamp shows your commission expiration date, so a renewal changes that date and the old stamp can no longer be used. The state manual does not set out a replacement procedure, so order the new stamp once you have the new expiration date in hand.
