A Mississippi notary acknowledgment form is a certificate that verifies the authenticity of a signature.
Once a document is executed, it must be notarized by a public notary, who witnesses the signing and confirms the signer’s identity. The acknowledgment form proves that the signer understood the content and signed the document willingly.
Legal Considerations
Statute: § 89-3-7
Form of Acknowledgment: The state provides several forms of acknowledgment including long and short forms, for natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and persons acting in representative capacities, as well as for proof of execution of the instrument made by a subscribing witness, and any business organization. (§ 89-3-7)
Notary Term of Commission: Up to four years (when the notary’s surety bond expires). (§ 5-2.6(A))
Notary Handbook: The Notary Rules and Regulations outline the responsibilities and requirements for notary publics and the process for becoming one.
Is Online Notarization Legal in Mississippi?
Yes, notaries can perform electronic, in-person notarial acts using notarization platforms approved by the Secretary of State.
§ 5-8.2 outlines the rules and requirements for notaries who wish to perform electronic notarization using an electronic notarization system. The system must meet specific criteria, including allowing the principal and notary to affix electronic signatures to electronic documents and making all electronic documents tamper-evident.
All requirements of a notarial act performed with respect to a tangible document apply to an electronic document.
How to Notarize
Step 1 – Find a Notary Public
You can look in your telephone directory under “Notary Public,” or banks or credit unions, UPS stores, and private notary services are some common options.
Step 2 – Meet with the Notary Public
After finding a notary public, you need to schedule a meeting with them to obtain your notary acknowledgment.
Step 3 – Prepare the Paperwork
Next, you must complete your document thoroughly. If you need a notary acknowledgment, you don’t have to sign the document in the presence of a notary public.
However, if you have witnesses, they should sign at the same time as you and witness your signature. Suppose your document does not have a notary acknowledgment section. In that case, you have to attach a notary acknowledgment form.
Step 4 – Bring ID
Take your document and a photo ID to the notary public. They will verify your identity before witnessing your signature. Sign the document in the notary’s presence if you haven’t already.
Step 5 – Complete the Notarial Certificate
If everything is in order, the notary public will fill out the acknowledgment form, including their signature and notary seal or stamp.
How to Verify a Notary
- Visit the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Search page.
- Click on the “Search Notary Publics” option.
- Enter the notary’s name or commission number in the search box and click “Search.”
- The search results will display the notary’s name, commission number, and expiration date.
How to Write (for Notary)
- Download a Mississippi notary acknowledgment form in Word or PDF format.
- Fill in the appropriate fields in the form, including the name of the associated county, the date, and the name of the person signing the document.
- Add your signature, printed name, and notary seal or stamp to the form to officially issue your notarization.
