Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 52:7-11

  • Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • State: extends to and includes any State, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
2. Commission; Term; Application; Renewal.

a. The State Treasurer may commission so many notaries public as the State Treasurer deems necessary to commission. Notaries public shall hold their respective offices for a term of five years.

b. An applicant for commission as a notary public shall make application to the State Treasurer on a form prescribed by the State Treasurer and endorsed by a member of the Legislature. Renewals shall be made in the same manner as the original application. All applications shall be submitted electronically.

The application form shall provide a notice to the applicant that a notary public who is not licensed as an attorney-at-law shall not use or advertise the title of lawyer or attorney-at-law, or equivalent terms, in any language, which mean or imply that the notary public is licensed as an attorney-at-law in the State of New Jersey or in any other jurisdiction of the United States. The application form shall also state that a notary public who advertises the notary public’s services in any language is required to provide with such advertisement a notice in the language of the advertisement which contains the following statement or translation of the following statement if the advertisement is not in English: “I am not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice.”

c. The State Treasurer shall collect a nonrefundable fee of $25 for each commission or renewal. In collecting the fee, the State Treasurer shall accept the use of a credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer.

L.1979, c.460, s.2; amended 2021, c.179, s.3.