Identifying the 5 Main
Notarial Acts
During ALL notarial acts, the notary must screen the signer for identity,
comprehension, and intent. If a document does not indicate which
notorial act to perform, the signer must choose. As a notary you must
remain impartial and cannot inuence a signer’s decision. Below are
steps and tips to help you successfully perform the 5 main notorial acts.
The signer must always
personally appear on the
date and in the place you
indicate on the notarial
certicate.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The signer acknowledges that they have signed the
document for its intended purpose.
1) Review the document.
2) Identify the signer.
3) Have the signer verbally acknowledge their
signature is/was made willingly and competently.
4) Verify the signer’s signature.
5) Complete the notarial certicate and journal entry.
W o r d s t o l o o k f o r i n t h e n o t a r i a l c e r t i c a t e :
Acknowledge or Declare
JURAT
The signer swears under oath that everything in the
document is true.
1) Review the document.
2) Identify the signer.
3) Have the signer verbally acknowledge their
signature is being made willingly and competently.
4) Watch the signer sign the document and verify
their signature.
5) Adminster oath or armation aloud.
6) Complete the notarial certicate and journal entry.
Words to look for in the notarial certicate:
Subscribed and sworn to
The oath taker verbally promises to tell the truth.
1) Identify the oath taker.
2) Adminster oath or armation aloud.
3) Complete the journal entry.
Words for the Oath or Armation:
“Do you swear to tell the truth, whole truth, and
nothing but the truth [so help you God] or [on your
personal honor]?”
COPY CERTIFICATION
The notary certies the copy they made is a true and
accurate copy.
1) Verify the document is one that a RI notary may
lawfully copy and certify.
2) Personally photocopy or supervise the copying of the
document.
3) Compare the original document to the copy to verify it
is accurate and complete.
4) Complete the notarial certicate and journal entry.
Words to look for in the notarial certicate:
True, exact, complete and unaltered copy
SIGNATURE WITNESSING
The signer signs the document in the presence of the
notary.
1) Review the document.
2) Identify the signer.
3) Have the signer verbally acknowlege their
signature is being made willingly and competently.
4) Watch the signer sign the document and verify their
signature.
5) Complete the notarial certicate and journal entry.
W o r d s t o l o o k f o r i n t h e n o t a r i a l c e r t i c a t e :
Signed on the attached document in my presence
TIP: This is the only act for which a document can
come pre-signed.
TIP: A specic oath may be written on the document.
TIP: There is no notarial certicate for this act.
TIP: The document holder and the document owner do
not have to be the same person. The document owner
does not need to be present.
TIP: When a signer requests a signature witnessing,
they are simply establishing that they appeared before a
notary public on a certain date.
OATH/AFFIRMATION