Notary Acknowledgment Form

Use our notary acknowledgment to certify that you have signed a legal document in front of a notary public.

Updated August 16, 2024
Written by Josh Sainsbury | Reviewed by Brooke Davis

A notary acknowledgment form is a document 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 acknowledgment form provided.

A notary certificate verifies the identity and is essential for all vital legal documents; estate forms like the power of attorney and last wills are often mandatory.

Do States Legally Recognize Online Notarization?

Yes, most states recognize online notarization. The only states that don’t recognize it are Massachusetts, Georgia, Delaware, Connecticut, and Georgia. Washington also doesn’t recognize it.

Notary Acknowledgment – By State

• Notary Acknowledgment - By State
• What Is a Notary Public?
• Types of Notarizations
• What Is a Notary Acknowledgement?
• How to Notarize a Document
• Where to Get a Letter Notarized
• Notarization Laws By State
• Notary Acknowledgment Sample
• Notary Acknowledgment Scenario
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Notary Public?

A notary public is a licensed official with the authority to certify legal documents. In doing so, they are responsible for verifying only the identity and signature of the person signing a document before them. Remember 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 must follow strict rules regarding their procedures and keep strict records of each transaction they oversee.

What Documents Need to Be Notarized

If your document concerns legal matters, banking, or financial institutions, it will typically require notarization and witnessing.

Certain states have distinct legal documents, such as a Will, which necessitate specific signing protocols requiring a certain number of witnesses. The necessity of having witnesses will vary depending on the nature of the document and the jurisdiction in which it is being executed.

Common examples of documents that often undergo notarization include:

• Last Will and Testaments
• Power of Attorneys
• Quitclaim Deeds
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Affidavits
• Mortgage Agreements.

For more information on national notaries in the United States, check the National Notary Association (NNA)

Types of Notarizations

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

• Acknowledgment: An acknowledgment is confirmed by having the person sign and verify their identity; they then acknowledge that they signed the document willingly. It is typically used for transactions, mortgages, deeds, and trusts.
• Jurat: Jurat notarizations are required if a signer takes an oath attesting to the truthfulness of the content in the document being notarized. This is used for legal proceedings like depositions and affidavits. Understand that an affidavit could be satisfactory evidence used in a case, but to make it admissible in court, it requires notarization
• Oaths and Affirmations are solemn promises, either religious or secular, to tell the truth or affirm the contents of a document. An oath is an oral sworn statement that can be used as part of a Jurat or during a legal proceeding.
• Copy Certifications involve the notary attesting to the trueness of a photocopy compared to its original document. Each of these acts carries its weight and significance in legal processes.‌

What Is a Notary Acknowledgement?

A notary acknowledgment is a formal declaration by a notary that attests that a document signer has affirmed that they have signed the document willingly and for the purposes stated in the document.

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

How to Notarize a Document

Follow the following steps to fill out your notarial certificate successfully:

Step 1 – Presentation of Document

The signer must be present in person or through a secured video conference and present the document to the notary public. A document must be fully completed before a notarization can be performed. Be sure to complete all necessary information in advance and leave no blank spaces where fraudulent information could be inserted.

Step 2 – Identity Verification

The notary public verifies the signer’s identity, often through government-issued identification such as a driver’s license or passport.

Step 3 – Willingness and Understanding

The notary public confirms that the signer understands the document’s contents and the notarial act itself and ensures that they are signing voluntarily. The notary must ensure that no coercion is involved in signing the document. Also, all parties must be present, and each signing must be of legal age (18 years old) and possess government-issued identification.

Step 4 – Document Signing

If the document has not already been signed in the notary’s presence, the signer will sign it or acknowledge that the signature on the document is theirs.

Step 5 – Watch the Notary Fill Out the Acknowledgment

The notary will then complete the acknowledgment. You do not need to fill out any of these parts yourself. The notary will fill in the venue (the state and county where the notarization occurs), the date, and your name as it appears on the identification you provided. They will also write in their details and provide their signature and seal to make the acknowledgment official.

Step 6 – Verify the Notary’s Work

Once the notary has completed the acknowledgment, ensure your name is spelled correctly, and the other information corresponds to your presentation.

Step 7 – Keep a Record

Once the notarization is complete, you may wish to take a photograph or make a photocopy of the notarized document for your records, if allowed. Some documents may be confidential, and the notary will advise you accordingly. The notary public may also record the transaction in a notary journal, which records all notarial acts performed by the notary.

Where to Get a Letter Notarized

You can locate a notary public and get a document notarized through various channels:

• Financial institutions: Most banks offer notarization as a complimentary service for account holders. However, if you don’t have an account, you can visit major banks like TD Bank, Chase Bank, or Bank of America, which usually provide notarization for a fee, generally around $25.
• Online directory: Find an online directory such as NotaryRotary.com.
• A business like UPS.
• Your county clerk’s office.

Notarization Laws By State

Each jurisdiction has its state law governing notary procedures. The following is a table highlighting these laws:

Notary Acknowledgment Sample

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