Acknowledgment vs. Jurat: What’s the Difference for California Notaries?

When you become a California Notary Public, you’ll quickly discover that two of the most common notarial acts are the Acknowledgment and the Jurat. While both appear frequently in everyday documents, they serve very different legal purposes — and it’s your duty as a notary to know exactly which one to perform.

This guide from Ready, Set, Notarize — a California Secretary of State approved notary education provider — breaks down the key differences between acknowledgments and jurats so you can perform each act accurately, confidently, and in full compliance with California law.

What Is an Acknowledgment?

An Acknowledgment is used when a signer needs to declare that they voluntarily signed a document. It does not require the signer to sign in front of the notary. Instead, the notary’s job is to verify the signer’s identity and confirm they acknowledge their signature as their own.

Purpose:

To confirm the signer’s identity and that they signed the document voluntarily.

Key Points:

• The document can be signed before meeting with the notary.

• The signer must personally appear before the notary.

• The notary verifies identity using acceptable identification (such as a driver’s license or passport).

• The notary does not administer an oath or affirmation.

• The notary completes and signs the California acknowledgment certificate.

Common Documents That Require an Acknowledgment:

• Deeds and grant deeds

• Trust documents

• Powers of attorney

• Real estate transactions

• Business agreements

Example Certificate Wording:

“On [date] before me, [name and title of notary], personally appeared [name of signer(s)], who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies)...”

What Is a Jurat?

A Jurat is used when the signer must swear or affirm that the contents of a document are true and correct. Unlike an acknowledgment, the signer must sign the document in front of the notary — and the notary must administer an oath or affirmation.

Purpose:

To ensure the signer personally appears, signs in the presence of the notary, and swears or affirms the truthfulness of the document.

Key Points:

• The document must be signed in the notary’s presence.

• The notary must administer an oath or affirmation.

• The notary verifies identity using proper ID.

• The notary completes and signs the California jurat certificate.

Common Documents That Require a Jurat:

• Affidavits

• Sworn statements

• Depositions

• Applications or forms requiring a sworn oath

Example Certificate Wording:

“Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on [date] by [name of signer(s)], who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) who appeared before me.”

Key Differences Between an Acknowledgment and a Jurat

Feature	Acknowledgment	Jurat
Signer must appear in person	Yes	Yes
Signer must sign in front of notary	No (can be pre-signed)	Yes
Notary verifies identity	Yes	Yes
Oath or affirmation required	No	Yes
Purpose	Verify voluntary signature	Swear truth of document
Common Uses	Deeds, powers of attorney	Affidavits, sworn statements

How to Choose the Right Notarial Act

As a notary, you cannot decide which certificate to use for the signer. The document issuer or signer must determine the appropriate notarial act. However, you can explain the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat — without advising them which one to select.

If the signer is unsure, they should contact the document’s originator or an attorney for clarification.

California Certificate Requirements

In California, notaries must use state-compliant acknowledgment and jurat certificates. Preprinted wording on documents must match state law exactly. If not, you must attach a loose certificate with the correct statutory language.

Always double-check:

• Certificate wording

• Signer’s ID and presence

• Your notary journal entry

• Proper signature and seal placement

Final Thoughts

Knowing the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat is essential for every California Notary Public. Proper execution protects the signer, the document, and your notary commission.

If you’re preparing for your California Notary Public Exam or need to renew your commission, enroll with Ready, Set, Notarize today. Our 6-hour initial course and 3-hour renewal course are fully approved by the California Secretary of State and designed to help you master these vital notarial acts.

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📞 Call or Text: 562-285-3488🌐 Register Online: www.readysetnotarize.net🎓 Courses Offered:

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