A North Carolina notary acknowledgment form is a legal attachment that confirms the authenticity of signatures on a document. The notary public, by signing, verifies the signer’s identity and their willingness to sign freely. This form includes the signer’s name, along with the notary’s seal, signature, and commission expiry date.
Also, North Carolina offers an e-notary service for digital documents.
Legal Considerations
Form of Acknowledgment: A notarial certificate that follows the provided form and is completed by a notary is considered legally sufficient for acknowledgments by individuals, whether acting personally or in a representative role, in this State. While this form is authorized, other forms can also be used. (§ 10B-41).
Notary Term of Commission: Five years (§ 10B-9).
Notary Handbook: North Carolina Secretary of State Notary Resources.
Is Online Notarization Legal in North Carolina?
Yes, indeed, House Bill 776 has made remote online notarization a permanent feature in North Carolina, and Chapter 10B – Article 2 governs electronic notarizations in the state.
The required elements for an electronic notarization form include:
- The notary’s name, along with the state and county of notarial operation,
- The designation “Electronic Notary Public” and the mention of “State of North Carolina”
- The date when the notary’s commission expires,
- The notary’s electronic signature and
- A completed text from one of the specified notarial certificates: Acknowledgment, Jurat, Verification or Proof, Oath or Affirmation.
How to Notarize
Step 1 – Finding a Notary Public
In North Carolina, notaries can often be found in financial institutions like BB&T, Wells Fargo, or UPS stores. Additionally, an online directory can help locate notaries across the state.
Step 2 – Document Preparation
Make sure that all signature fields on the document to be notarized remain unsigned prior to the notarization process.
Step 3 – Provide Identification
Anyone signing the document must show valid identification to the notary. The only exception is if the notary personally knows the individual.
Step 4 – Signing the Document
The document must be signed in the notary’s presence. For acknowledgment purposes, each signer should affirm that their signature was made willingly and without duress.
Step 5 – Taking an Oath
For certain notarizations like jurats, the signer may need to swear or affirm that the statements in the document are true.
Step 6 – Completing Notarization
The notary concludes the process by signing and affixing their seal to the notarial certificate. This step is essential, and signers must be physically present to verify their identity and their voluntary participation in the signing process.
How to Verify a Notary
- Access the North Carolina Notary Public Search website.
- Search for notaries using their name, commission number, or city.
- Upon finding a match, click on the notary’s name to view details such as their commission number, expiration date, and county of commission.
If you would like to use electronic notarization for your document, please select the option marked “Available for E-Notarization” before proceeding to click on the Search button.
How to Write (for Notary)
- Download a North Carolina notary acknowledgment form in PDF or Word format.
- Fill in the county of acknowledgment, the date, and the signer(s)’ names, ensuring they match the document.
- The notary completes the form with their name, title, commission expiration date, signature, and official seal or stamp.
