WI Notary Acknowledgments and Jurats 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For a Wisconsin acknowledgment, must the signer personally appear before the notary at the time of signing?
- The signer must personally appear but need not sign in the notary's presence (Correct answer)
- The signer must both appear and sign in the notary's presence
- No personal appearance is required for acknowledgments
- The signer may send a representative
Correct answer: The signer must personally appear but need not sign in the notary's presence
For an acknowledgment in Wisconsin, the signer must appear before the notary but may have already signed the document before appearing.
Question 2: What does a signer confirm when making an acknowledgment before a Wisconsin notary?
- That they signed the document voluntarily and for the purposes stated (Correct answer)
- That the document is accurate and true
- That all facts in the document are correct
- That the document was reviewed by an attorney
Correct answer: That they signed the document voluntarily and for the purposes stated
In an acknowledgment, the signer confirms they voluntarily signed the document for its stated purpose, not that its contents are true.
Question 3: When performing a jurat in Wisconsin, must the notary administer an oath or affirmation?
- Yes, an oath or affirmation is required for a jurat (Correct answer)
- No, the signer's signature alone is sufficient
- Only if the document is for a court
- Only if the signer requests an oath
Correct answer: Yes, an oath or affirmation is required for a jurat
A jurat always requires the notary to administer an oath or affirmation certifying that the signer attests to the truthfulness of the document's contents.
Question 4: Which notarial act is most commonly required for affidavits in Wisconsin?
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Acknowledgment
- Copy certification
- Protest
Correct answer: Jurat
Affidavits require a jurat because the signer swears under oath to the truthfulness of the statements in the document.
Question 5: Can a Wisconsin notary perform an acknowledgment if the signer signed the document weeks before the notarization?
- Yes, as long as the signer appears and acknowledges their signature (Correct answer)
- No, the document must be signed in the notary's presence
- Only if the notary witnessed the original signing
- No, the document must be re-signed
Correct answer: Yes, as long as the signer appears and acknowledges their signature
An acknowledgment allows a signer to appear before the notary and acknowledge a previously executed signature, regardless of when it was signed.
Question 6: For a Wisconsin jurat, must the signer appear personally before the notary?
- Yes, personal appearance is required for a jurat (Correct answer)
- No, the oath can be taken remotely without authorization
- Only for documents worth over $1,000
- No, the signature alone is sufficient
Correct answer: Yes, personal appearance is required for a jurat
A jurat requires the signer to personally appear before the notary to take the oath or affirmation and sign the document.
WI Notary Acknowledgments and Jurats 1
For a Wisconsin acknowledgment, must the signer personally appear before the notary at the time of signing?