Acknowledgment vs. Jurat: Why Your California Notary Asks Which One You Need
California notaries often have to ask whether you need an acknowledgment or a jurat — and that question can catch people off guard.
“Can’t you just choose for me? You’re the notary!”
It’s a fair question. But in California, a notary can explain the difference between common notarial acts, but cannot choose the type of notarization for you. That choice needs to come from the document, the person or agency requesting the document, or another qualified source.
The good news is that acknowledgments and jurats are not hard to understand once you know what each one is for.
Quick difference:
Acknowledgment: “Yes, that is my signature, and I signed willingly.”
Jurat: “I swear or affirm that the contents of this document are true.”
The easiest answer: use the one you were asked for
If someone told you to “get this notarized,” they may have also told you what kind of notarization they need.
If they did, great. That is usually the answer.
If they did not, the best first step is to ask the person, business, agency, attorney, escrow officer, lender, or other party who requested the notarized document. They are usually the ones who know what they need to accept.
The second easiest answer: check the notary certificate
The notary certificate is the section of the document that the notary completes. It usually has wording such as “personally appeared,” “acknowledged,” “subscribed and sworn,” or “under penalty of perjury.”
If your document already includes a notary certificate, a California notary can usually read and see if the provided certificate is an acknowledgment or a jurat. In that case, you may not need to choose anything at all — the document may already include the notarial wording requested.
If your document does not include a notary certificate, then you may need to find out which type of notarization is required before the appointment.
What is an acknowledgment?
An acknowledgment confirms the signer is acknowledging that they signed the document willingly.
For an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear before the notary and be properly identified. The document may already be signed, or it may be signed during the appointment. The key point is that the signer is acknowledging that the signature is theirs and that they signed the document voluntarily.
The notary is not certifying that the document is true, accurate, legal, or valid. The notary is verifying the signer’s identity and completing the notary certificate.
What is a jurat?
A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true.
For a jurat, the signer must personally appear before the notary, be properly identified, take an oath or affirmation, and sign the document in the notary’s presence.
That oath or affirmation is an important part of the jurat. Without it, the jurat is not complete.
In plain English: with a jurat, you are not just signing the document. You are also swearing or affirming that the statement in the document is true.
So which one do you need?
Most notarizations are either an acknowledgment or a jurat, but the notary cannot choose for you.
The best way to know is to check:
- What the receiving party asked for
- Whether the document already includes a notary certificate
- Whether the wording says “acknowledged” or “subscribed and sworn”
- Whether the signer is being asked to swear or affirm that the contents are true
If you are still unsure, contact the person or organization requesting the document before your appointment. A notary public verifies your identity and witnesses your signature. We can’t give legal advice or tell you which notarization your document legally requires — that’s the role of the requesting party or an attorney.
Need a mobile notary appointment?
Hill Sign Mobile Notary helps clients with acknowledgments, jurats and other common notarizations in Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Loomis, and nearby Placer County communities.
Before your appointment, we can explain the difference between common notarial acts and help you understand what information you may need to get from the receiving party.
If you need a mobile notary appointment, feel free to call, text, or schedule online.
Your trust is appreciated.