What Is a Jurat?

What is a jurat? Jurats verify the authenticity of sworn statements that are submitted as evidence in a court case.

There are two types of judicial notarizations: a notary acknowledgement and a jurat.

So what is a jurat, and how does it differ from a notary acknowledgement?

How to Obtain a Jurat

An affidavit is a written statement filed by an affiant as evidence in a court case. In order to be admissible, affidavits must be notarized by a notary public.

The purpose of a jurat is for an affiant to swear to or affirm the truthfulness of the contents of an affidavit. A notary public administers an oath or affirmation to the affiant, who verifies the truths listed in the affidavit under penalty of perjury.

A jurat requires the following steps:

1. The signer must appear in person before you and sign the document in your presence.
2. In some states, you are required to positively identify the signer.
3. You must administer a spoken oath or an affirmation, and the signer must respond out loud. Silent answers such as a nod of the head are not acceptable.

Unlike a notary acknowledgement, where the affidavit may be signed ahead of time and without a notary public present, a jurat requires the affiant reaffirm their oath by signing the document in front of the notary.

Expediting the Legal Process

Despite their importance, getting documents notarized is incredibly frustrating. For over 100 years, customers needed to find, schedule, and visit a notary public in-person to have their signature verified.

Court cases may take a long time to resolve, but getting your affidavit notarized doesn’t have to.

Notarize eliminates the hassle tied to in-person notarizations by allowing you to connect with a notary public instantly online through your iPhone, Android device, or personal computer. Our agents can sign your documents in as little as five minutes, and they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sign up alongside thousands of happy customers who have found an easier, more efficient way to meet their notarization needs. Our app holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating in the iOS App Store with over 2,000 reviews, and a 9.4 out of 10 rating on Trustpilot with over 500 reviews.

How Does Notarize Work?

We work with your schedule, not the other way around. To get your document notarized, simply Download the Notarize Mobile App or Connect with a Notary Public Online and follow these steps:

1. Upload any document, but do not sign it before uploading it. You must sign before the notary public.
2. Fill out the document using Notarize’s digital tools.
3. Validate your identity.
4. When ready, you’ll be prompted to connect in a live video call with a commissioned electronic notary public. You have access to a notary 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
5. Sign using your computer, iPhone, or Android device as the notary public watches over live video.
6. Wait as the notary public notarizes your document online. The average wait time is about 60 seconds.
7. You’re done! Download your notarized PDF.

Ready to get that jurat notarized? Visit Notarize to get started.