| Acknowledgment | Affidavit / Jurat | |
|---|---|---|
| The notary certifies | Identity and execution: the signer says "I signed this" | That the statement was sworn to or affirmed before the notary |
| Oath? | No | Yes, answered with "I do" |
| Signed in front of the notary? | Not required, but the signer must appear in person | The signer appears and swears in person |
| Wording | "...personally appeared... and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same" | "Sworn to before me this ___ day of ___, 20__" |
| Typical documents | Deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney | Sworn statements, affidavits |
Memory hook
Acknowledgment = "Yes, that's my signature." Jurat = "I swear it's true."
The jurat is only the certificate part of the affidavit, not the affidavit itself. Some forms combine both, so read each document to see what your duty is.
Practise it with Certificate Builder in the full version.