Acknowledgement
or Jurat?
Do you know the difference between these two notarial acts? If not, this page should help you identify which one you may need.
Two of the most common notarial acts are acknowledgements and jurats. While these two acts are very similar, there are several important distinctions between the two. I have created a chart below to help you determine which type of notarial act you need based on information located within your document or on your document’s signature page. If you are still unsure of which act you need, you must contact the originator of the document or an attorney. I cannot provide you legal advice or suggestions as to which type of act should be performed.
| Ack. | Jurat | |
|---|---|---|
| Signer must personally appear before notary | YES | YES |
| Signer must provide satisfactory identification | YES | YES |
| Document must be complete (no blanks) | YES | YES |
| Document must be signed in presence of notary | NO | YES |
| Signer acknowledges they signed document under penalty of perjury | YES | YES |
| Signer affirms/swears to the truthfulness of the information in the document under penalty of perjury | NO | YES |
| Document requires an oath or affirmation be administered by notary | NO | YES |
| Notary wording in the document contains “sworn” or “affirmed” or similar language | NO | YES |
| Typically used in affidavits and other legal documents | NO | YES |
A quick tell is whether your document contains wording similar to “sworn” or “affirmed.” If it does, then a jurat is required. If it merely states that you appeared before a notary and acknowledged being the signer of a document, then often this document is an acknowledgement.
If your document does not contain any notarial wording of its own and therefore requires a loose certificate to be attached, you must determine whether to an acknowledgement or a jurat is required. Again, if you are unsure of which notarial act you need, you should contact the originator of the document, the party to whom the document will be submitted/recorded, or an attorney. At no time can I or any other notary recommend, suggest, or decide for you which type of notarial act needs to be performed.