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NOTARY CHALLENGE: This exercise is designed to guide you in learning the important differences between the Acknowledgment and a Jurat.
To describe the difference between the acknowledgment and the jurat, imagine the signer of a legal document providing these statements:
"Yes, this is my signature, and I signed voluntarily." (Acknowledgment)
"I swear that the statements in this document are true." (Jurat)
The Acknowledgment and Jurat Have Different Procedural Requirements
Some documents contain a notarial certificate that is informally referred to as a 'hybrid,' which attempts to combine the language of both an acknowledgment and a jurat. Virginia notary law does not specifically define or authorize a hybrid notarial act. Because these notarial acts involve different procedural requirements, using a hybrid may create ambiguity regarding what the notary actually certified.
The QUIZ below is an exercise in learning the individual attributes of the acknowledgment and the jurat. The box labeled Both displays those attribute(s) that they have in common. This displays why Virginia does not recognize the hybrid.
Why These Facts Matter
When using a jurat, the notary places the signer under oath regarding the truthfulness of statements in the document. An acknowledgment confirms identity and voluntary execution of the signature. These are different certifications with different legal purposes. Their only commonality is that the signer must appear in the notary's presence and provide their ID. If the purpose of the hybrid is to combine both procedures, then the resulting procedures are unclear.
In Which Legal Documents are Acknowledgments and Jurats Found?
Acknowledgments are used for documents that involve valuable assets, such as deeds, mortgages, and trusts.
Jurats are often performed on legal documents such as affidavits or depositions.
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Note: This page is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or offer official guidance from the Commonwealth of Virginia.