Notary Acknowledgment Form

A notary acknowledgment form is used by a notary public to certify that the person signing the document in their presence is who they claim to be. The form declares that the notary witnessed the person’s signature, obtained proof of the signer’s identity, and was convinced of their willingness and mental capacity to sign the form provided.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Notary Acknowledgment Form?
• Who Is a Notary Public?
• Types of Signatures
• How to Write a Notary Acknowledgment Form
• How to Get a Document Notarized
• Notary Acknowledgment Form Sample
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Notary Acknowledgment Form?

A notary acknowledgment form is a sworn statement signed by a registered notary public to certify the signer’s identity. By law, the notary public is required to view some form of government-issued photo identification to prove the signer is the person referenced in the form.

A notary public can attach a notary acknowledgment form to documents such as a power of attorney and a last will and testament. Once a notary public signs a notary acknowledgment form, they affix a notary seal or stamp to the form to complete the notarization process.

Who Is a Notary Public?

A notary public is a licensed official with the authority to certify legal documents. In doing so, a notary public is responsible for verifying the identity and signature of the person signing a document before them. Keep in mind that a notary public completing a notarization form does not certify the document’s truthfulness, accuracy, or validity.

Notaries are impartial individuals of good moral character who are trained, tested, and appointed by their respective states. Each notary is required to follow a strict set of rules regarding their procedures and must keep strict records of each transaction they oversee.  ‌

Types of Signatures

Review the different types of signatures that a notary public can acknowledge:

• Individual: A single person signs and shows proof of identification to show they approve of the original document’s contents.
• Partnership: A partnership may sign the form to show their approval. The notary public must list the entity type (LP, LLP, etc.).
• Corporation: A representative from a corporation may sign the original form.
• Jurat: A person can swear to an affidavit in the presence of a notary public.

How to Write a Notary Acknowledgment Form

You can write a notary acknowledgment form in one of two ways. Firstly, you can write the notary acknowledgment form on a separate page and attach it to the document you want notarized. Secondly, you can make the wording of the jurat notary acknowledgment form a part of the original document.

Whether you write your own notarized statement or prepare it using a notary form template, each form must include “notarial wording” to identify and verify the parties involved and confirm that the notary public obtained proper signatures. When notarizing a document, the wording requires you to include the following details in your written notary acknowledgment form:

• Location of State and County‌
  • Officially designate where the notarization is taking place (county and state).
• Notarial Wording designating the document as an Acknowledgment or Jurat
• Acknowledgment
  • An acknowledgment confirms the person’s identity and acknowledges they signed the document willingly. 
• Jurat
  • Jurat notarizations are required if a signer takes an oath attesting to the truthfulness of the content in the document being notarized. 
• Date document was notarized
  • Use the format of  ___ day of ________ 20___.
• Signer’s name and space for signature
  • Consider including their complete address to indicate you are referring to a particular person. This kind of information is often included in power of attorney forms.
• Space for the notary’s signature
• Room for the notary’s stamp or seal

‌‌Minimum statutory requirements state that the notary’s signature must be signed by hand and in ink. The name presented must exactly match the name on the notary’s commission card that always remains on file at the appropriate county clerk. The seal must also include the expiration date of the commission. The date cannot be crossed out and replaced with another date. 

How to Get a Document Notarized

Here’s a list of steps on how to notarize a document:

Step 1 – Prepare the Original Document

Have the original document ready by completing all necessary information ahead of the notary. A document must be fully completed before a notarization can be performed. Be sure there are no blank spaces where fraudulent information could be inserted.

Step 2 – Locate a Notary Public

Locate a notary public. Find one via a:

• Financial institution
• An online directory like NotaryRotary.com
• A business like UPS
• Your county clerk’s office

Step 3 – Provide Your ID

You must provide government-issued photo identification and a signature for the notary to verify your identity. The signer must prove their identity, and the notary must believe they aren’t signing the document under coercion.

Step 4 – Receive a Copy of the Notary

The copy will include the notary seal, which will help certify the notarization was performed correctly when inspected by a third party. 

Notary Acknowledgment Form Sample

Review a sample of our notary acknowledgment form. Download it as a PDF or Word file below:

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Frequently Asked Questions

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