Notary Public Underwriters Blog
The Difference Between Acknowledgments and Jurats
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- Published: December 18, 2024
In America, the two notarial acts most often performed for a document signer are the acknowledgment; and the jurat (also called a "verification" on oath or affirmation).
These common notarial acts have quite different purposes:
- Acknowledgment - a notarial act in which a person confirms ("acknowledges") to a notary public or other notarial officer that the person signed a particular document of their own free will, and that they did so with knowledge of the contents and effects of the document.
- Jurat (Verification on Oath or Affirmation) - a notarial act in which a person declares to a notary public or other notarial officer that the contents of a written document signed by the person are truthful.
Likewise, these notarial acts are used on documents with distinctly different purposes:
- Documents requiring an acknowledgment notarial act typically contain terms or conditions that the named document signer is agreeing to; this agreement is indicated by the person's signature on the document, and also stated in the verbal ceremony for an acknowledgment administered by a notary.
- Documents requiring a jurat (verification on oath or affirmation) typically contain information or statements provided as facts. By signing the document, the named document signer is confirming the truth or accuracy of the information or statements and also swearing-to or affirming the document's truthfulness in the verbal ceremony for a jurat (verification on oath or affirmation) administered by a notary.
Here's another way that acknowledgments and jurats/verifications differ:
- Documents requiring an acknowledgment may be signed by the named principal signer (the person whose signature must be notarized) BEFORE notarization or DURING notarization. If signed before notarization, the notary should carefully compare the signature on the document with the present individual's signature on their ID credential.
- Documents requiring a jurat (verification on oath or affirmation) may ONLY be signed by the named principal signer IN THE NOTARY'S PRESENCE. Because the notary personally knows or has identified the principal signer, and the principal signer's signature is made in the notary's presence, the notary can feel assured that indeed, that IS the named signer's signature on the document.
Having these two types of notarial acts enables people to rely on different types of written documents, serving different purposes, to manage their important life affairs. Whether a person needs to acknowledge signing a document for its stated purposes, or to swear/affirm that a document’s contents are true, the glue holding it all together is a notary public who competently performs the formalities of each signature notarial act.
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