Before you sign · Notary basics · Updated November 8, 2026
Can a notary notarize a document I already signed?
Often yes, if the certificate is an acknowledgment, where you declare to the notary that you signed it. A sworn statement or affidavit is usually signed in front of the notary after the oath, so if you already signed one, expect to sign a fresh copy.
✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. See the credentials
Matthew Coleman, NJ Notary Public and NNA Certified Loan Signing Agent. Cranford, NJ. Fee confirmed before your session. Card charged only after it is complete. We aim to confirm within 15 minutes, 7am to 9pm.
Details
How to tell which kind you have
Look at the notary wording at the end. Words like "acknowledged before me" mean an acknowledgment. Words like "subscribed and sworn to before me" mean a sworn statement. The notary can't choose the certificate for you or tell you which one you need; the document, or the office that asked for it, decides.
Acknowledgment: you can sign beforehand
In New Jersey an acknowledgment is your declaration to the notary that you signed the record for the purpose stated in it. You still appear in person or by online session, with ID, and the signature must match.
Sworn statement: sign in front of the notary
For a verification on oath or affirmation, you swear or affirm that the statement is true, and the usual wording says you signed before the notary. Bring an unsigned copy, or print a new one, so you can sign after the oath.
Best practice
Don't sign until you're with the notary; it avoids the question entirely. Leave blanks filled in, and bring every page. See blank lines on a form.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.1, 52:7-10.10, 52:7-10.11 and 52:7-10.17 (P.L.2021, c.179) and N.J.A.C. 17:50-1.9, read on the New Jersey Legislature's session law and the state regulation text, checked November 11, 2026.
What it costs
New Jersey caps the notary fee at $2.50 per notarial act. An online session's price is shown before you confirm, and a mobile visit adds a travel and service fee quoted before we confirm.
Need this notarized? Get it notarized online by a New Jersey notary over video.
How to book or request
Book an online session or a mobile visit. Bring the document, an unsigned spare copy if it's a sworn statement, and a current photo ID.
Book a notaryBook an online session Call (908) 444-6373
Common questions
I signed my affidavit already. Is it ruined?
Usually you just sign a fresh copy in front of the notary after the oath. If the document can't be reprinted, ask the office that issued it what to do.
Can I sign in the car and walk in?
For an acknowledgment, often yes, as long as you appear before the notary and confirm it's your signature. For a sworn statement, wait and sign in front of the notary.
Does this work online?
Yes. For an acknowledgment you can upload a document you've already signed and confirm it on camera; for a sworn statement you sign electronically during the session.
Can the notary pick the certificate?
No. The notary completes the certificate the document or receiving office calls for; if none is given, ask them which one they want.
Related
- Blank lines on a form before notarization
- Affidavit vs sworn statement vs declaration
- Does my document need a notary?
- When a notary must refuse
General information, not legal advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. Updated November 8, 2026.