Can you prepare or choose a power of attorney form for me?

No. Selecting, drafting or explaining a power of attorney is legal work. A notary can only notarize the document you already have.

Do witnesses need to attend?

That depends on the wording of your document or the instructions from whoever prepared it. Check before the appointment and bring witnesses with their own photo identification if they are required.

What if the signer is unwell but alert?

A notarization can proceed as long as the signer can be identified, understands that they are signing, and is signing willingly. If that is not clear at the appointment, it will not go ahead.

Notary service · New Jersey

Power of Attorney Notarizations in New Jersey

A power of attorney hands someone else the authority to act on your behalf. Because the document carries real weight, the signing deserves an unhurried appointment where identification is checked properly and the signer is clearly acting of their own accord.

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Who has to be present

The person granting the authority — the principal — must be present, identified, and signing willingly. The notary observes the signing and completes the notarial certificate; the notary does not judge whether the arrangement is a good idea or whether the chosen agent is suitable.

The agent being appointed does not always need to attend. Whether they do, and whether witnesses are needed, depends on the wording of the particular document.

Care around capacity and willingness

A notarization can only go ahead if the signer appears to understand that they are signing and is not being pressured. If a signer seems unsure, confused, or is being spoken over by someone else in the room, the appointment may need to pause or be rescheduled. That is a protection for the signer, not an obstacle.

Where a document was prepared by an attorney, follow their signing instructions — they take precedence over anything assumed at the appointment.

What to expect at your appointment

1An appointment paced so the signer is comfortable and not rushed.
2Identification checked for the principal and for any witnesses the document requires.
3The signing witnessed and the notarial certificate completed as the document directs.
4A pause or reschedule if the signer does not appear to be signing freely and knowingly.

What to bring

A valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification for every signer.
The complete document, including all pages and any attached exhibits.
Any witnesses the document itself requires, each with their own photo ID.
Blank signature lines — sign only when the notary is present, unless the document says otherwise.
Any signing instructions supplied by the attorney or agency that prepared the document.

Questions about this service

More general questions are answered on the notary FAQ page.