Jurat or acknowledgment?
A jurat means you swear the document is true and sign in front of the notary. An acknowledgment means you confirm the signature is yours.
What is the difference between a jurat and an acknowledgment?Link to this section
A jurat means you swear the document is true. You sign it in front of the notary and you take an oath. An acknowledgment means you confirm the signature on the document is yours. You are allowed to sign that one before you arrive. Both require you to appear in person with valid photo ID.
| Acknowledgment | Jurat | |
|---|---|---|
| What you are saying | I signed this. It is my signature. | I swear what this says is true. |
| Sign in front of the notary? | No. You can sign beforehand. | Yes. Required by law. |
| Oath or affirmation? | No. | Yes. |
| Appear in person? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Photo ID? | Yes. Same rules for both. | Yes. Same rules for both. |
| Wording on the certificate | "acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same" | "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me" |
| If you lie | No oath, so the oath cannot make it perjury. | You are under oath. A false statement can be perjury. |
| Usual documents | Deeds, powers of attorney, trusts, advance health care directives | Affidavits, sworn statements, proof of residence letters |
Who decides which one you needLink to this section
The notary cannot decide for you. Ask the person or the office that asked you for the document.
This is not the notary being unhelpful. California's Notary Public Handbook lists the "selection or determination of the kind of any legal document" as the practice of law. Notaries are not allowed to practise law. A notary who picks the certificate for you is choosing a legal document on your behalf. That can cost them their commission under Government Code § 8214.1.
So the answer has to come from somewhere else. Try these, in order.
- Look at your document. Many forms already have the notary wording printed at the bottom. If you see "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me", it is a jurat. If you see "acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same", it is an acknowledgment. That settles it, and you do not need to ask anyone.
- Ask whoever wants the document. The lender, the escrow officer, the court clerk, the county office, the school, your employer, or the person in another country who will receive it. Ask them plainly: "Does this need an acknowledgment or a jurat?" They deal with these documents every day.
- Ask a lawyer. If nobody can tell you and the document matters, this is the handbook's own answer.
A notary can tell you what each act involves. That is describing a process, and it is allowed. A notary cannot tell you which one your document needs. That is legal advice, and it is not.
If you arrive without knowing, the appointment is not wasted. Call the office that wants the document from the appointment. Most questions are answered in two minutes.
What an acknowledgment isLink to this section
You are confirming that the signature is yours and that you signed the document.
You do not have to sign it in front of the notary. You can sign it at home a week earlier. You still have to come in person, show ID, and tell the notary that you signed it.
When the notary completes an acknowledgment, they are certifying three things:
- You appeared before them, on that date, in that county
- Who you are
- That you acknowledged signing the document
This is the usual certificate for deeds, powers of attorney, trusts and advance health care directives. Government Code § 8205 lists those document types directly. The exact wording of the certificate is set by Civil Code § 1189.
What a jurat isLink to this section
You are swearing that what the document says is true.
You must sign it in front of the notary. Government Code § 8202 says so in one sentence: "The affiant shall sign the document in the presence of the notary." If you already signed it at home, you will sign it again.
The notary will also administer an oath. There is no fixed script for it. The handbook suggests "Do you swear or affirm that the statements in this document are true?" You answer yes. People often raise their right hand. That part is tradition, not law.
When the notary completes a jurat, they are certifying four things:
- You appeared before them, on that date, in that county
- You signed the document in front of them
- They administered the oath or affirmation
- Who you are
Because you are under oath, a jurat carries real weight. If you knowingly swear to something false in a material way, that is perjury under Penal Code § 118.
The notary does not check whether your document is trueLink to this section
This surprises people, so it is worth saying clearly. California law prints the same warning at the top of both certificates:
A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.
That sentence is required by Civil Code § 1189 for acknowledgments and by Government Code § 8202 for jurats.
A notary checks who you are. A notary does not read your document and decide whether it is correct. Even with a jurat, the notary is certifying that you swore an oath. They are not certifying that what you swore is true. That part is on you.
Which documents usually need whichLink to this section
These are the common patterns. They are not rules, and the office receiving your document has the final say.
Usually an acknowledgment
Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, powers of attorney, trust documents, advance health care directives, transfers of title.
Usually a jurat
Affidavits, sworn statements, declarations, financial affidavits, small estate affidavits, proof of life letters, proof of residence letters, many court forms.
It genuinely varies
DMV transfer forms, parental travel consent letters, school forms, insurance forms, employer letters. There is no fixed rule for these. Ask the office that wants it.
VideosLink to this section
These explain the same difference out loud, which some people find easier than reading it.
- Jurat vs. Acknowledgment: Key Differences Notaries MUST Know. National Notary Association, about 2 minutes. The quickest answer, and it covers why a notary cannot choose for you.
- Do I use an acknowledgment or Jurat, California Notary Public. Patrick Hall, about 2 minutes. The only one below that is framed around California.
- Acknowledgment Vs. Jurat. American Notary Service Center, about 2 minutes. Walks through which document types usually take which certificate.
- New Notary? Learn Jurats and Acknowledgments in One Video. National Notary Association, about 5 minutes. Shows both acts being performed, so you can see what happens at the appointment.
- Notary Certificates, Jurats vs Acknowledgements. Signing Agent Basics, about 9 minutes. The most detailed of the five.
Notary rules are set state by state and they differ. Four of these five are national. Only the California pages on this site describe California law.
What to bringLink to this section
The same things either way.
- Photo ID from the accepted list. It must be current, or have been issued within the past five years. Civil Code § 1185 sets the list.
- The document, complete. No blank spaces. A notary is not allowed to accept a document that is incomplete.
- Yourself, in person. California does not allow notarization over video. A video call is not a personal appearance.
If you are not certain whether you have a jurat or an acknowledgment, bring the document unsigned. A jurat requires you to sign in front of the notary. An acknowledgment does not mind either way. Unsigned works for both.
For a deed or a power of attorney, California also requires your right thumbprint in the notary journal.
The full list of what to bring →
Common questionsLink to this section
Can I sign at home and bring it in?Link to this section
For an acknowledgment, yes. You still have to come in person with your ID. For a jurat, no. You have to sign in front of the notary, so you would sign it again. If you are not sure which one you have, bring it unsigned.
Will you tell me which one to pick?Link to this section
No, and no notary in California should. Choosing the certificate is treated as practising law. Ask the person or office that asked you for the document. If your form already has notary wording printed on it, that answers the question.
Does it cost more?Link to this section
No. California caps both at $15. Government Code § 8211 allows up to $15 for each signature on an acknowledgment, and up to $15 for a jurat. We charge $10 for each signature notarized, either way.
What if I have no acceptable ID?Link to this section
There is another route using credible witnesses, but it has real conditions attached. Ask before you book and we will tell you whether it will work in your case.
Do you come to me?Link to this section
Yes, anywhere in the Tri-Valley. A mobile visit adds a flat $75 travel fee. Mobile notary →
Book an appointmentLink to this section
Call (925) 319-8855. If you already know whether you need a jurat or an acknowledgment, say so when you call. If you do not, ask the office that wants the document first.
Sources: Civil Code § 1185, § 1188 and § 1189; Government Code § 8202, § 8205, § 8211 and § 8214.1; Penal Code § 118; and the California Notary Public Handbook. This page explains a process. It is not legal advice.