Free Notary Acknowledgment Forms (U.S) – Uses and Overview

A ‘notary acknowledgment‘ is a sworn statement made by a notary public that an individual has been informed of the contents of a document before signing it.

A notary public is a licensed public employee tasked with administering oaths, taking affidavits of the execution of certain documents, and gathering proof for future use.

A notary acknowledgment can be used for leases, mortgage agreements, custody agreements, litigation agreements, and other documents which require one or more signatures by individuals who were not present when the document was created.

Notary templates will not only help you save time, resources, and effort; but will also help ensure that you provide all the required information to make your document legally valid for notarization. In addition, these pre-made templates can be used multiple times. Download them for free from below:

Why Should You Get Your Documents Notarized?

When it comes to very important documents such as leases, mortgage agreements, custody agreements, contracts, etc., evidence of a signature is usually very important. For instance, in the event that a contract is disputed, evidence of signature can be used to establish who signed the document. The same goes for when a document needs to be presented in court. A notary acknowledgment can prove that the signer was actually present when the document was signed and that they were duly informed of its contents before signing. Moreover, a notary acknowledgment can be also be used as proof of signing since it is a sworn statement.

When it comes to notarial services, the main components are witness, oath, and seal. The witness is either a notary public or a person chosen by a notary public. The notary public participating in the procedure is sworn in and receives a copy of the document to be witnessed. The witness holds on to this document while taking an oath to truthfully testify under penalty of perjury that they have personally witnessed the document’s contents and signed it according to what they personally saw and heard.

Here are the steps that you should complete to have your documents notarized:

Step 1: Complete the document

The first thing you need to do is complete the document that you will be notarizing. This is a very important step because the contents of the document will have a huge impact on your notary procedure. You need to make sure that the document is complete and that all the information you want is included. You also need to consider the type of document that you plan to have notarized.

For example, if you will be notarizing a lease agreement, you need to make sure that the contract outlines all the clauses contained in it. You can also consult with your lawyer and let them check the document for any potential conflicts before taking it to the notary public. Also, you can use premade templates to help ensure that you don’t leave out any important information that may hinder the notarization.

Step 2: Gather the signers

After you have completed the document, you need to find the people who will sign it. You need to consider two things before deciding who will sign the document. The first one is whether all the people listed on the document are of age. If they are less than 18 years old, a parent or guardian must sign the document on their behalf.

The second thing that you need to ensure is their identification process. Before signing the document, it is important to make sure that the person who will be signing the document is really the person they claim to be. Make sure that they have their identification documents with them and that they are in good condition.

Step 3: Find a notary public

After you have found your document signers and identified their identification documents, the next thing to do is find a notary public. This person will administer the oath and witness the signing of your document. You can choose a notary public from a local agency or conduct an online search to get one.

Make sure that you choose a reputable notary public who has extensive knowledge in the field. You also need to look at the cost of the notary public. A notary public might charge you for administering the oath or for witnessing the signing of your document. It is important to choose a notary public that you can agree with depending on these factors.

Step 4: Distribute original copies

The next thing that you need to do is distribute the original copies of your documents among the signers. This step is very important because it will help prevent any alterations from occurring before the procedure. You need to make sure that all the signers have their own original copies of the document.

Most people who want their documents notarized are usually not familiar with legal document templates. As a result, they do their own research and later develop a document that the notary public won’t accept. This is because they do not create legally compliant documents. Consequently, they end up spending more time trying to make the document fit for notarization than actually getting it signed and legalized. To avoid this, you should consider creating and using a pre-made notary template.

A notary template must include the following components:

Acknowledgment statement

A notary acknowledgment must have an acknowledgment statement. This statement is a written declaration that a person has made regarding the contents of a document after being informed of it. This acknowledgment statement must be signed under penalty of perjury by a notary public. This statement is usually included at the end of the document after the signature line.

An acknowledgement statement must be included to validate a notarization for an apostille or a duplicate signature. This is because it will help prove that the notary public was at the notarial appointment and witnessed the signing of the document. Acknowledgement statements usually vary from state to state.

For instance, states like Arizona, Colorado, California, and Illinois, have an acknowledgment statement that is more detailed than other states.

Some states like New Jersey require that the document is signed only in a handwritten format while others like Colorado, Texas and Illinois require a notarial seal to be stamped on the document.

Place where the notarization takes place

A notary acknowledgment will usually happen at a specific location. This is where the notarization takes place, and it can be in a notary public’s office or any other location, depending on the type of document you are signing. For instance, if you sign a lease agreement, the notarization will occur at the apartment or the rental offices. Consequently, if you are signing a mortgage document, the notarization will happen at your mortgage provider’s office.

Notary’s registration number

The next item that should be included in the notary acknowledgment template is the notary’s registration number in your document. This registration number is usually printed on the notary’s license. If you do not have this information, you can either find it online or ask the notary public to tell you the number directly.

Notary’s signature and seal

The next item that should be included in the notary template is the signature and seal of the notary public. To make sure that you are working with a reputable and established firm, check if your state notary public has a seal. If they do, you can use this seal in your documents instead of a rubber stamp. The notary acknowledgment should be signed by the notary public and then stamped with their seal.

Notary’s expiration date

The last item that should be included in a notary acknowledgment template is the expiration date of the notary’s license. Notaries are only authorized to administer their services for a period of time, after which they will have to renew their licenses. The license’s expiration date is usually printed on a certificate you receive from them when you hire them to sign your document legally.

Before you hire a notary public to sign your documents, it is important to know the notarial laws of your state. Most states have laws that govern how notaries are supposed to perform their services. Some states also require you to use a specific type of document before getting it replicated with a notary seal. Below is a list of all the notarial laws in different states:

By states

A judicial notarization is any procedure that involves the notary public acting in an official capacity to verify or prove the validity of something.

There are different types of judicial notarizations. Some of the most common are:

Corporation/LLC

Corporations or LLCs are private businesses that are owned by a number of people who sign the documents and agree to their terms and conditions. Anyone who is a member of a corporation or an LLC can get it notarized. This means that owners, shareholders, or members of an LLC can get the same type of document notarized.

Personal (Individual)

If you are a person and you have a lot of personal documents that need to be notarized, you should opt for personal notarial services. You will not only get your documents personally notarized but will also enjoy the price discount that is usually given to individuals. This service is usually provided at a lower cost because the notary public does not charge for the same number of hours that a firm would charge for.

Jurat

Jurats are documents that have to be signed by a notary public. They are usually used when you need someone to act on behalf of another person related to the signer or a company. For instance, if you want your child’s adoption papers notarized, you can use this service. If you want your business documents and financial statements verified, a jurat is likely required for these documents.

Partnership

A partnership is a business that two or more two people own. Business partners who have the same interests in the business can get their documents notarized. This procedure can be used to sign partnership agreements and other documents that arise from the partners’ business activities.