Before you book
What can't be notarized online?
Most signatures can be notarized on a video call. A handful of situations stop it. Knowing them in advance saves you the booking and the wait.
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.
Stops that come from the document
Incomplete or unsigned-by-others pages. The document has to be complete. A notary cannot fill in blanks or add wording.
No notarial wording and no instruction. If the document has no certificate and you cannot say which one it needs, the notary cannot choose for you. The receiving office or an attorney has to say.
Copies of public records. A notary generally cannot certify a copy of a birth, death or marriage record or another public record. Those come from the office that holds them.
Stops that come from the signer
No valid ID. Without an unexpired, government-issued photo ID that matches the name on the document, the session cannot go ahead.
A signer who does not seem willing or does not understand. The notary has to be satisfied that the signer is signing willingly and understands what the paper is. If not, the notary must stop. See when a notary must refuse.
No camera or microphone, or a weak connection. The session requires a live two-way video link.
Stops that come from the receiving office
Paper-only or in-person-only rules. Some agencies, courts and institutions accept only a paper original with a physical stamp. Ask them first. Remote ink-signed notarization (RIN) may fit; see RIN vs RON.
Documents that need witnesses in the room. Some signings need witnesses besides the notary. Say so when you book so the plan can cover them.
Wills
A will is its own question. In New Jersey a will's validity depends on how it is signed and witnessed, and a notary is not what makes it valid. A notarized self-proving affidavit is a different document. Ask the attorney who prepared the will how to sign it. A notary cannot advise on it; see the self-proving affidavit guide.
Related
- Can I notarize online?
- What a notary can and cannot do
- Remote online notarization
- Appointment checklist
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, and the office receiving your document decides what it accepts, so confirm with them before you sign. Updated October 2026.
FAQ
Common questions
Can a notary certify a copy of my birth certificate?
Generally no. Copies of public records are certified by the office that holds the record.
What if my ID is expired?
An expired ID cannot be used. Get a current one, or ask whether another acceptable ID applies, before you book.
Can someone sign for me?
Not on a regular notarization. The person named in the document has to appear and sign. There are specific rules for a signer who physically cannot sign; see our guide on that.
Who decides if my document qualifies?
The receiving office decides what it accepts. The notary decides whether the session can proceed once it starts.