New Jersey requires a notary stamp on every notarial certificate, showing your name, the phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" and the date your commission expires. The stamp can be inked on the certificate or embossed into it. No size, shape or ink color is specified. A lost or stolen stamp must be reported to the State Treasurer inside 10 calendar days. Below: each point, plus ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 and the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Dept. of the Treasury. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp use | Needed on each notarial certificate you complete. | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Dept. of the Treasury |
| Name | Your name as the notary. | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Title and state | "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" as one phrase. | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Expiration date | The date your commission runs out. | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Other details | A commission number or county is not among the required items. | N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 |
| Size | No dimensions are given. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Shape | No outline is given. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | No color is given. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | An accepted alternative, because the stamp may be placed on the certificate or embossed into it. | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Dept. of the Treasury |
| Lost or stolen stamp | Report it to the State Treasurer; the window is 10 calendar days. | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Dept. of the Treasury |
For the same rule in the other 53 jurisdictions, read notary seal requirements by state.
What three items make up a New Jersey notary stamp?
Your name, the phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey", and the date your commission expires. N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.5 lists those three and nothing else, which keeps the face of the stamp short.
Because the list is short, each item carries weight. The title phrase combines the office and the state in one run of words, and the expiration date ties the stamp to your current commission. For a closer look, read what every New Jersey notary should know about the stamp.
Which documents need the stamp?
Every notarial certificate. In New Jersey the stamp is not reserved for certain kinds of acts; each certificate you complete as a notary carries the impression, whether you ink it on or emboss it.
That makes the stamp a daily tool rather than an occasional one, so keep it within reach wherever you notarize. Our overview of New Jersey notary seal requirements covers the certificate side in more depth.
Can you emboss instead of inking?
Yes. New Jersey accepts an embossed impression as an alternative to an inked one: the stamp may be affixed to the certificate or embossed on it. An embosser that carries the three required items is a complete option, not just an accessory.
Whichever device you choose, it has to carry all three items, and the choice between the two is yours to make.
Is there a set size or shape?
No. New Jersey does not specify a size or a shape for the notary stamp, so a rectangular or round face can both work as long as the three required items appear.
With only three items to fit, the layout is forgiving. Pick a size that leaves the name and the full title phrase easy to read, and one that suits the certificate space you usually work with.
Does New Jersey name an ink color?
None is specified. The New Jersey rules cited here set no ink color, so the choice is yours for an inked stamp, and it does not arise at all for an embossed impression.
Pick a color that shows clearly on the documents you handle, and stay with it so your certificates look consistent over time.
Why does the expiration date on the stamp matter?
Because it is one of only three required items, and it names a single commission. Once your commission carries a later expiration date, a stamp showing the earlier date no longer matches the commission you hold.
Keep your commission paperwork handy so the date on any new stamp is copied exactly. See our notes on the expiration date on a New Jersey seal and on New Jersey notary stamp renewal.
What if your stamp is lost or stolen?
Report it to the State Treasurer no later than 10 calendar days after the loss or theft. The deadline is a set count of calendar days, so weekends and holidays count toward the ten.
Make the report first, then order a replacement carrying the same three items. Keep a dated record of the notice with your notary papers.
Who commissions New Jersey notaries?
The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, part of the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. The lost-stamp notice goes to the State Treasurer, which fits the Treasury's role as the commissioning authority.
Your commission is where the expiration date on your stamp comes from, so treat it as the reference document for every stamp order.
What should you supply when ordering?
Your name as you want it to appear, your commission expiration date, and your choice of an inked stamp, an embosser or both. The title phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" is fixed and needs no input from you.
Choose a size and outline that suit your certificates, since New Jersey leaves both open. For help comparing options, read what to look for in New Jersey notary supplies and our roundup of notary supply options in New Jersey.
How do you check a new stamp before first use?
Make a test impression and confirm three things: your name is spelled correctly, the phrase reads "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" in full, and the expiration date matches your commission exactly.
For an embosser, hold the test sheet at an angle to the light and make sure every letter of the raised impression can be read. A faint or partial impression should be fixed before the device goes on a real certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both an inked stamp and an embosser?
No. Embossing is an alternative to inking, so one device that carries the three required items meets the rule. Owning both is a preference, not a requirement.
Does a New Jersey stamp need a commission number or county?
No. The required list is short: your name, the phrase "Notary Public, State of New Jersey" and the date your commission expires. Neither a commission number nor a county is among them.
Does the 10-day loss deadline count business days?
No. The deadline is 10 calendar days, so every day counts, including weekends.
Can the stamp go anywhere on the document?
The impression is affixed to or embossed on the notarial certificate, so it belongs on the certificate rather than elsewhere on the page.
Can the title phrase be reworded, for example to "NJ Notary"?
The rule states the phrase as "Notary Public, State of New Jersey". Put it on the stamp in those words rather than an abbreviation or a paraphrase.
With your name and expiration date confirmed, pick an inked stamp or an embosser from our New Jersey stamps and seals collection.
