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Notary Definitions

Learn the basic differences between acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and affirmations before your mobile notary appointment.

These definitions are provided for general information only. Riverstone Signature Services cannot provide legal advice or choose the notarial act for you. Please contact the document issuer, receiving agency, or an attorney if you are unsure what your document requires.

Acknowledgments

An acknowledgment is a notarial act where the signer personally appears before the notary, is identified, and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily.

The preference is for the document to be signed in front of the notary whenever possible. If the document has already been signed before the appointment, the signer must personally acknowledge to the notary that the signature is their own and that they signed the document voluntarily.

Common use: Acknowledgments are often used for documents involving property, powers of attorney, trust documents, business forms, and other documents where a signer must acknowledge signing voluntarily.

Jurats

A jurat is a notarial act where the signer personally appears before the notary, is identified, signs the document in the presence of the notary, and swears or affirms that the statements in the document are true.

A jurat usually requires the document to be signed in front of the notary.

Common use: Jurats are often used for affidavits, sworn statements, declarations, and other documents where the signer must swear or affirm that the contents are true.

Oaths and Affirmations

An oath or affirmation is a solemn promise that a statement is true. An oath usually has a religious or solemn wording, while an affirmation is a non-religious promise with the same legal effect.

The signer must be able to communicate directly with the notary in English and must understand that they are making a truthful statement under oath or affirmation.

Common use: Oaths and affirmations may be required for jurats, affidavits, sworn statements, and other documents requiring a formal promise of truthfulness.

Not Sure Which One You Need?

A notary cannot choose the notarial act for you or tell you which certificate your document requires. Please check with the document issuer, receiving agency, or an attorney before the appointment.

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