What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which one person, the principal, gives another person, the agent or attorney-in-fact, authority to act on the principal's behalf. Depending on how it is written, that authority can cover financial accounts, real estate, business decisions, or personal and legal matters.
A POA can be broad or narrow. A durable power of attorney stays in effect if the principal later becomes incapacitated, while a limited or special power of attorney covers only a specific task, such as selling one property or handling a single transaction. Many powers of attorney require a notarized signature so that banks, title companies, and other institutions will accept them.
Can it be notarized online?
In most cases, yes. New Jersey permits remote online notarization of a power of attorney. You appear on live video, present your ID, and sign while a commissioned notary watches and completes the notarial certificate.
Acceptance is never automatic. The bank, title company, court, or agency that will rely on the document may have its own rules about how a POA is signed, whether witnesses are required, or which form it will accept. Always confirm those requirements with the receiving party before your session.
What you'll need
- Your unsigned power of attorney as a PDF. Do not sign it in advance.
- A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID.
- A device with a working camera and microphone.
- A stable internet connection and a quiet, well-lit space.
- Any witnesses your form or the receiving party requires, ready to appear if needed.
How BKS Notary helps
You meet a commissioned New Jersey notary in a live video session. The notary confirms your identity, watches you sign, administers an oath if the document calls for one, and completes the notarial certificate on the record.
When the act is finished you receive a tamper-evident, sealed PDF that recipients can verify as authentic and unaltered. The audio-video recording and the notarial record are retained in line with New Jersey's requirements.
What the notary does not do
The notary verifies your identity, witnesses your signature, and completes the certificate. The notary does not give legal advice, does not draft or edit your power of attorney, and cannot choose which type of POA is right for you.
The notary also cannot guarantee that a particular bank or agency will accept the finished document. If you need help deciding what the document should say, speak with an attorney before your session.
Common issues
- Already signed. The notary must watch you sign. Bring a clean, unsigned copy.
- Expired ID. Your photo ID must be current and unexpired.
- Name mismatch. The name on your ID should match the name on the document. Contact us first if it does not.
- Missing witnesses. Some forms or institutions require one or more witnesses. Line them up before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I notarize a power of attorney online in New Jersey?
In most cases yes. New Jersey allows remote online notarization of a power of attorney, and you sign it on camera in front of a commissioned notary. The person or institution that will rely on the POA may still have its own requirements, so confirm with them first.
Does the agent I am appointing need to attend the session?
Usually only the principal, the person granting authority, signs and is notarized. The agent generally does not need to be present, but some POA forms include an acceptance section for the agent. Check your specific form.
Should I sign the power of attorney before the session?
No. Bring an unsigned copy. The notary must watch you sign on camera. If it is already signed, we may not be able to notarize it.
Start a Notarization
Meet a commissioned New Jersey notary online and get your power of attorney sealed today.
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