Types of Notarizations

Acknowledgment

An acknowledgment is needed to declare that you have willingly signed a document. Acknowledgments are most often performed on transactions regarding property or assets, such as deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust.

Jurat

A jurat requires you to swear or affirm that the document’s contents are true. This notarial act certifies that the document signer has sworn or affirmed, under oath, that the contents of a document are true and correct.

Depending on the state or county, jurats may also be referred to as affidavits or verifications on oath or affirmation. Jurats are most often performed on evidentiary documents in the justice system, like affidavits, depositions, and interrogatories.

Oaths or Affirmations

An oath or affirmation is for you to verbally attest that you are telling the truth or upholding specific values. The difference between an oath and affirmation is that an oath involves swearing to a higher power, such as God, whereas an affirmation is telling the truth based on your personal honor.

You get to choose whether you’d like to take an oath or affirmation based on your preference.

Copy Certification

A copy certification confirms that the copy of a document is an exact match of the original. They are most often performed on personal vital records and business transactions, including:

• Diplomas
• Driver’s licenses
• Leases
• Contracts
• Vehicle titles
• Social Security cards
• Medical records
• Bills of sale

Before asking a Notary for copy certification services, check with your state to see if this notarization is allowed.

Signature Witnessing

A signature witnessing is done to confirm that you are who you claim to be and that the signature on record belongs to you. While signature witnessings are somewhat uncommon, some U.S. states authorize Notaries to certify that a document was signed in their presence and that they were an official witness to the signing.

If you’re unsure about the type of notarization you need, contact the document issuer or receiving agency for guidance. Remember, Notaries may not choose the notarization for you as that is considered unauthorized practice of law.