Notary Glossary

  Act in which a Notary certifies having positively identified a document signer who personally appeared before the Notary and admitted having signed the document. 

  Act in which a Notary certifies having watched the signing of a document and administered an oath or affirmation. 

 Spoken, solemn promise to a Supreme Being that is made before a Notary in relation to a jurat or other Notary act, or as a Notary act in its own right. 

 Spoken, solemn promise on one’s personal honor, with no reference to a Supreme Being, that is made before a Notary in relation to a jurat or other Notary act, or as a Notary act in its own right. 

 Person who either watches another (the principal) sign a document or takes that person’s acknowledgment of an already-signed document and appears before the Notary on behalf of the principal. The subscribing witness must sign the document in addition to the principal, must be personally known by the Notary and must take an oath or affirmation stating that he or she witnessed the principal sign or took the principal’s acknowledgment. 

 Acting freely without duress or undue influence.