2A:82-6. Copies of record of protest as evidence

If it appears that the notary or other officer of this state by whom any bill of exchange or promissory note was protested has died or removed from the state or, after diligent inquiry, his place of residence cannot be discovered, the record deposited in the county clerk's office, as required by section 7:5-5 of the title Bills, Notes and Checks, of the Revised Statutes, or a copy thereof certified by such clerk, shall be received as competent evidence of the matter contained in such record.

When the register or other book of any notary public appointed and qualified under the laws of any state of the United States containing a record of the official acts of such notary public by him done in pursuance of his office is, in pursuance of the law of such state, by reason of the death, removal or other disability of the notary public, deposited in the office of the clerk, prothonotary or recorder of deeds of the city, town or county in which the notary public resided at the time of his acting as notary public, a copy of the record or of any part thereof respecting the protesting of any note or bill of exchange protested by the notary public, and the time when, place where and upon whom demand of acceptance or payment was made, with a copy of the notice of nonacceptance or nonpayment (if a copy of the notice shall appear on said record), how the notice of nonacceptance or nonpayment was served, and the time when, or if sent, in what manner, and the time when, and to whom, duly certified under the hand and seal of such clerk, prothonotary or recorder of deeds, or otherwise proved to be truly taken from said record, shall be held and received in all the courts of this state as competent evidence of the facts therein recited, and also of the official character of the notary public. When it shall appear from such record that the said note or bill of exchange had been protested for want of acceptance or payment thereof, and that the said notary public making such protest had duly notified the drawer or indorsers, by mail, of the demand of payment or acceptance and refusal thereof, without specifying the names or the post office address of such drawer or indorsers, the copy of the record certified or proved as aforesaid, shall be held and received in all courts of this state as competent evidence that the drawer and indorsers of such note or bill of exchange were duly notified of such demand and refusal.

L.1951 (1st SS), c.344