Notary · General

What is a 'jurat' (as opposed to an acknowledgment) and when is it used?

Correct answer

A jurat certifies that the signer appeared before the notary, signed the document IN THE NOTARY'S PRESENCE, and took an oath or affirmation that the contents of the document are true — used for affidavits, sworn statements, and any document requiring an oath

  1. A A jurat is the same as an acknowledgment
  2. B A jurat certifies that the signer appeared before the notary, signed the document IN THE NOTARY'S PRESENCE, and took an oath or affirmation that the contents of the document are true — used for affidavits, sworn statements, and any document requiring an oath
  3. C A jurat is used only for real property documents
  4. D A jurat is only for corporate documents

Why this is the answer

JURAT vs ACKNOWLEDGMENT: JURAT REQUIREMENTS: Signer must be PHYSICALLY PRESENT and sign the document IN FRONT OF the notary; Signer takes an OATH OR AFFIRMATION that the document's contents are true; Notary witnesses the signing; JURAT CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE: 'Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me this ___ day of ___'; USED FOR: Affidavits (sworn statements of fact); depositions; court documents requiring sworn testimony; any document where the truthfulness of the content must be certified under oath; ACKNOWLEDGMENT REQUIREMENTS: Signer may have signed previously — only must appear before notary and acknowledge the signature is theirs and was voluntarily given; Notary verifies identity and willingness; NO OATH REQUIRED; USED FOR: Deeds, mortgages, contracts, powers of attorney; KEY DIFFERENCE: A jurat certifies the TRUTH OF THE CONTENT (under oath); an acknowledgment certifies the IDENTITY OF THE SIGNER and VOLUNTARINESS OF THE SIGNATURE only.
Source: NNA Notary Training — Jurat vs Acknowledgment

Practice more questions

This question is from our Notary Public Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all General and other topics.

Take the Notary practice test →

New to this exam? Our Notary exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

Related questions

State-specific guides

Need information for your state? Our state guides cover local requirements, fees, and what to expect on exam day.