Contracts · 5 min read
Acknowledgment vs. Jurat: Picking the Right Notarial Certificate
These are the two most common notarial acts. Choosing the wrong one can invalidate the document — here's how to know which to use.
An acknowledgment certifies that the signer appeared before the notary, was identified, and acknowledged signing the document willingly. No oath is administered. Used for deeds, mortgages, contracts, and most transactional documents.
A jurat certifies that the signer appeared, was identified, swore an oath as to the truth of the contents, and signed in the notary's presence. Used for affidavits, depositions, and sworn statements.
The document's certificate language tells you which act to perform. If the document says "subscribed and sworn before me," it's a jurat. If it says "acknowledged before me," it's an acknowledgment. Never improvise — attach a loose certificate if the document doesn't include one.