When you bring a document to a notary, you may hear them ask:
“Do you need an acknowledgment or a jurat?”
For many people, those terms sound like legal jargon. However, understanding the difference is crucial because choosing the wrong notarial act could render your document invalid.
In this post, we’ll break down what acknowledgments and jurats are, how they differ, and when each one should be used.
When you bring a document to a notary, you may hear them ask:
👉 “Do you need an acknowledgment or a jurat?”
For many people, those terms sound like legal jargon. But understanding the difference matters — because choosing the wrong notarial act could make your document invalid.
In this post, we’ll break down what acknowledgments and jurats are, how they differ, and when each one should be used.
✅ What Is a Notary Acknowledgment?
An acknowledgment is a notarial act where the signer confirms that:
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They signed the document voluntarily.
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They understand what they are signing.
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The signature is genuinely theirs.
Key Point: The notary does not watch you sign the document in an acknowledgment. You can sign it beforehand and simply acknowledge to the notary that it’s your signature.
Common Uses for Acknowledgments
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Real estate deeds
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Power of attorney
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Trust documents
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Business contracts
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Legal agreements
Acknowledgments are primarily about authenticity of the signature, not the content of the document.
What Is a Notary Jurat?
A jurat is different. In this case, the signer must:
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Sign the document in front of the notary.
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Take an oath or affirmation swearing that the contents of the document are true.
👉 Key Point: A jurat is about truthfulness. It combines a witnessed signature with a sworn statement.
🔹 Common Uses for Jurats
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Affidavits
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Depositions
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Sworn statements for court cases
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Written testimony
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Certain financial disclosures
With a jurat, the signer isn’t just saying, “Yes, that’s my signature.” They’re also swearing that what they wrote is the truth.
How Do You Know Which One You Need?
Often, the document itself will specify whether it requires an acknowledgment or a jurat. If it doesn’t, here’s a quick rule of thumb:
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If the document involves property, contracts, or powers of attorney → Acknowledgment
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If the document contains sworn facts or testimony → Jurat
Important: Notaries cannot decide for you which act is required that would be giving legal advice. If you’re unsure, ask the document recipient or consult an attorney.
Why Does the Difference Matter?
Using the wrong notarial act can have serious consequences:
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A real estate transaction might be rejected by the county clerk.
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An affidavit could be thrown out in court.
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A financial institution might refuse your paperwork.
Understanding acknowledgments and jurats ensures that your documents are legally valid and accepted the first time.
Final Thoughts
While both acknowledgments and jurats involve notarization, they serve very different purposes. An acknowledgment confirms a genuine, voluntary signature, while a jurat confirms the truthfulness of a sworn statement.
The next time you need a notary, you’ll know the difference and you’ll be prepared to choose the right notarial act.
Need a notary for your acknowledgment or jurat? Contact us today to schedule a reliable, professional notarization.
