Notary glossary
Jurat
A jurat is the notarial act used for sworn documents. You sign the document in the notary's presence and swear or affirm that what it says is true. The certificate reads “sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me.” Affidavits and sworn applications use a jurat.
The difference between a jurat and an acknowledgment
They are the two notarial acts most forms ask for, and they certify different things. A jurat certifies that you swore the contents are true. An acknowledgment certifies only that the signature is yours and that you made it willingly, the notary says nothing about whether the document is accurate.
That difference drives the procedure. A jurat requires you to sign in front of the notary and take an oath; an acknowledgment lets you sign in advance and simply confirm the signature when you appear. It also drives the consequence: swearing falsely in a jurat is perjury, while an acknowledgment carries no such exposure because you never swore to anything.
Sworn documents take a jurat, affidavits, sworn statements, most permit affidavits. Documents that are signed rather than sworn take an acknowledgment, deeds, powers of attorney, most agreements. The certificate wording printed on your form is what decides it, and a notary cannot choose for you, because selecting the act is considered legal advice in most states.
Two things a jurat requires that an acknowledgment does not
First, you must sign in front of the notary. A document you signed at the kitchen table that morning cannot be jurat-notarized as-is; you sign again during the appointment.
Second, you take an oath or affirmation. The notary will ask you, out loud, whether you swear or affirm that the statement is true. An affirmation is the non-religious equivalent and carries exactly the same legal weight, you can choose either.
What you are swearing to
In a jurat you are vouching for the truth of the contents, which is a meaningfully different thing from an acknowledgment, where you only confirm the signature is yours. That is why sworn statements carry penalties for false statements and acknowledged documents generally do not.
The notary is certifying that the oath was administered and the signature made in their presence. They are not certifying that what you swore is actually true.
Which documents need a jurat
Affidavits of all kinds, sworn statements, declarations made under oath, and a large share of city permit paperwork: owner-builder affidavits, roofing affidavits, contractor statements, residency affidavits. If the document calls itself an affidavit or contains the words “being duly sworn,” expect a jurat.
Deeds, powers of attorney, leases and most agreements take an acknowledgment instead. Check the certificate printed on your form; it decides which act you need.
Jurats in an online notarization
A jurat works over video the same way it works in person. You join the session, pass identity verification, the notary administers the oath on camera, you sign electronically while they watch, and they complete the jurat certificate with their electronic seal. The session recording preserves the oath.
Common questions
What is the difference between a jurat and an acknowledgment?
A jurat requires you to sign in the notary's presence and swear the contents are true. An acknowledgment only requires you to confirm that the signature is yours and was freely made, and you may have signed beforehand. Affidavits take jurats; deeds and agreements take acknowledgments.
Can I sign a jurat document before the appointment?
No. A jurat requires the signature to be made in front of the notary. If you have already signed, you will sign again during the session.
Is an affirmation as good as an oath?
Yes. An affirmation is a solemn declaration that a statement is true, made instead of swearing, and it has the same legal effect. Notaries offer it as a matter of course.
Related terms
Acknowledgment
A notarial act where you declare to the notary that you signed a document willingly. You can sign before the meeting; the notary confirms your identity and your acknowledgment, then completes the certificate. Deeds, powers of attorney and most agreements use an acknowledgment. Contrast a jurat, where you sign in front of the notary and swear the contents are true.
Affidavit
A written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true in front of a notary. City permit packets are full of them: owner-builder affidavits, roofing affidavits, survey affidavits. An affidavit needs a jurat, not an acknowledgment.
Oath
A sworn promise that a statement is true, made to the notary before signing an affidavit or sworn application. An affirmation is the non-religious equivalent.
Self-proving affidavit
A sworn statement attached to a will, signed by the testator and the witnesses in front of a notary, confirming that the will was properly signed and witnessed. It lets a probate court accept the will without tracking the witnesses down years later.
General notary practice, not legal advice, rules on identification, witnesses and which documents may be notarized online are set by each state. See the requirements page for your state, or browse the full notary glossary.
The notary guides cover where to get a document notarized and what each option will and will not handle, the FAQs explain how a session runs, and the document guides cover specific paperwork. When you are ready, start a session.