Online notarization by document
Affidavits and sworn statements, sworn on a video call
An affidavit is a statement you swear or affirm is true. New Jersey lets a notary give that oath by video, and the oath is recorded with the rest of the session.
Starting at $40 per session, online, no travel · quote confirmed before you book · fees
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.
What this document is
An affidavit is a written statement of facts that the signer swears, or affirms, is true, signed in front of an officer who gives the oath. The notarial act is usually called a jurat, or a verification on oath or affirmation. Common examples are affidavits of residence, identity or name, lost documents, heirship, small estates and support letters, and sworn statements for insurers.
The words in an affidavit are the signer's own statement. Whoever asked for it, or the signer's attorney, decides what it should say. The notary confirms who is swearing and gives the oath; the notary does not check whether the facts are true.
Does online notarization usually work for it?
The oath itself can be given over video. New Jersey law lets a notary administer an oath to a remotely located person using communication technology, provided the notary identifies the person and records the oath. Before you book, ask whoever asked you for the affidavit:
- Do you accept an affidavit notarized electronically, delivered as a PDF?
- Does it have to be sworn (a jurat), or is an acknowledgment acceptable? If the document has no notary wording, which certificate do you want?
- Is there a form you require, and does it need exhibits attached?
- For a federal agency: would a declaration signed under penalty of perjury do instead? Federal law allows that for many federal matters, with exceptions, so ask the agency.
Pitfalls to avoid
Signing before the call. A sworn statement is signed after the oath, during the session. If you already signed a paper copy, it can't be used for an electronic session; upload a clean, unsigned PDF.
No notary wording. If the document has no certificate, the notary can't choose one for you. The receiving office, or your attorney, says whether it should be sworn or acknowledged.
Exhibits. Attach exhibits to the PDF before you upload it. Swearing to an affidavit doesn't make the notary certify that an attached copy is a true copy of anything.
Swear or affirm. You can take an oath or make an affirmation. Tell the notary which you prefer; both are said out loud on the recording.
More than one person swearing. When two people sign a joint affidavit, each one is identified and gives the oath separately. They can join from different places.
Readiness checklist
- A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID for each signer. We ask for a current ID for online sessions; if yours has expired, call the desk before you book.
- A computer, tablet or phone with a working camera and microphone.
- A stable internet connection, somewhere quiet enough to hear and be heard.
- The complete document as a PDF, with every page and no blanks, not yet signed.
- A yes from the receiving party that it accepts an electronic notarization.
- Your location: anywhere in the United States is fine. Outside the U.S., the document has to meet New Jersey's conditions (see below).
- Any exhibits merged into the same PDF, in order.
- The name and contact of the office that asked for the affidavit, in case the notary needs to confirm the certificate wording.
Signing from outside the U.S.? New Jersey requires that the record be filed with or relate to a matter before a public official, court, governmental entity or other entity subject to U.S. jurisdiction, or involve property in the U.S. or a transaction substantially connected with the U.S.; and that signing it is not prohibited by the country you are in. See signing from outside the U.S.
How the session works
- Book and upload. Upload the affidavit, with exhibits, unsigned.
- Identity steps. Each person who will swear completes the ID check and identity questions.
- The oath. On the call, the notary asks whether you swear or affirm that the statements are true. You answer out loud. This is recorded.
- Sign and seal. You sign on screen, and the notary completes the jurat noting it was done using communication technology.
- Send it on. Download the notarized PDF and deliver it the way the receiving office asked.
Your notary is a commissioned New Jersey notary working from New Jersey. The video session is recorded and the recording is kept for at least 10 years, as New Jersey requires.
What it costs
Remote online notarization starts at $40 per session, online, no travel. Your price depends on the number of signers and documents, and the desk confirms it before anything is booked. State notarial fees are listed on the fees page.
Related pages
- Notarizing a general affidavit
- Affidavit vs sworn statement vs declaration
- Affidavit of identity and name discrepancy
- Affidavits from abroad
- Remote online notarization
More online notarization by document and signer
- Power of attorney
- Real estate documents
- Vehicle title and DMV forms
- Medical and school consent forms
- Business and corporate documents
- Seniors and their families
Official sources
- N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10 (remote notarial acts), enacted by P.L.2021, c.179, section 19. New Jersey Legislature (checked November 6, 2026)
- 28 U.S.C. 1746, unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury. U.S. Government Publishing Office (checked November 6, 2026)
- N.J.A.C. 17:50-1.13 and 17:50-1.14 (identity documents, remote notarial acts), as published on nj.gov (PRN 2021-103, 53 N.J.R. 1809(a)). NJ Department of the Treasury (checked November 6, 2026)
General information, not legal advice. We notarize; we don't draft or explain documents. Questions about what a document says or which one you need are for your attorney. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts. Updated November 6, 2026.
FAQ
Affidavits and sworn statements: common questions
Is an oath over video valid in New Jersey?
New Jersey law allows a notary to administer an oath to a remotely located person using communication technology, and the act is governed by New Jersey law. Whether a particular office accepts it is up to that office.
Does the notary check that my affidavit is true?
No. The notary confirms your identity and gives the oath. You are responsible for the truth of what you swear to.
What is the difference between swearing and affirming?
Both commit you to the truth of the statement. An affirmation simply doesn't use the word swear. Tell the notary which you prefer.
Can you write my affidavit?
No. We notarize; we don't draft or explain documents. The office that asked for it may have a form, or your attorney can prepare one.
Do federal agencies always need a notarized affidavit?
Not always. Federal law allows many federal matters to be supported by a declaration signed under penalty of perjury, with some exceptions. Ask the agency what it accepts.