Jurats
A jurat is a notarial act in which the signer must sign the document in front of the notary and swear (or affirm) that the contents are true.
✓When to Use
- Affidavits
- Sworn legal statements
- Sworn declarations
Used when the truthfulness of the document's contents must be confirmed.
Real Example: A client brings in an affidavit that is not yet signed. - The notary verifies the client's ID - The client signs the document in front of the notary - The notary administers the oath: "Do you swear that the information in this document is true?" - The client answers "Yes" → notarization is completed
A jurat requires two things — the signer must sign in the notary's presence, and the notary must administer an oath or affirmation.