An acknowledgment is a notarial act where the notary certifies that the person signing the document did so voluntarily and acknowledged that they understood and executed the document. The notary does not need to witness the actual signing but confirms the signer’s intention.
A jurat involves both witnessing the signing of the document and administering an oath or affirmation to the signer, affirming that the contents of the document are true and accurate. The notary must be present when the document is signed.
The notary’s signature and seal should be placed on the notarial certificate page or section of the document where the notarial act is performed. It is not necessary to seal or sign every page of the document, only the notarial certificate.
If an error is discovered after notarization, the notary should notify the signer, make the necessary corrections, and re-notarize the corrected document if required. The notary should not make unauthorized changes or destroy documents but ensure that the notarization accurately reflects the corrected information.
A notarial certificate must include the date of the notarial act, the type of act performed (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat), and the notary’s signature and seal. This provides a formal record of the notarial act and ensures the document is properly notarized.
