Acknowledgment or jurat, and why it matters
There are two common notarial acts and they are not interchangeable. In an acknowledgment you confirm that the signature is yours. In a jurat you swear the contents are true, and the notary administers an oath before you sign.
An affidavit needs a jurat. If the wrong certificate is attached, the court or agency can reject the document, so check which one your form asks for before the appointment. If your document does not say, ask whoever will receive it, because I am not allowed to choose for you.
Statements people have notarized
Common ones, with no legal advice attached:
- Declarations of single status, for marriages abroad.
- Statements of residence or address for schools and agencies.
- Statements about lost, stolen or destroyed documents.
- Financial support and income declarations requested by an institution.
- Statements of fact used in civil matters, prepared by the person or their attorney.
- Company declarations and certifications by a director or officer.
How the appointment goes
Bring the statement finished and unsigned. I verify your identity, administer the oath aloud, watch you sign, and complete the jurat with my seal and signature.
It usually takes ten minutes. Online sessions work the same way, with the oath given over video.
What I cannot do
I cannot draft your affidavit, tell you what to put in it, or advise whether it will achieve what you want. That is the work of an attorney. I also cannot notarize a statement that is blank or incomplete, or one you have already signed somewhere else.
If it is going abroad
Sworn statements sent to another country usually need an apostille from the Florida Department of State, and sometimes a translation. I notarize the affidavit and help you file for the apostille so it is accepted the first time.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I sign the affidavit before the appointment?
- No. For a sworn statement you must sign in my presence, after taking the oath. If it is already signed, we start again with a fresh copy.
- Can you tell me what to write?
- No. The content is yours, or your attorney's. I administer the oath and complete the notarial certificate.
- Can it be done online?
- Yes. Affidavits are among the most common documents notarized in a remote online session.
- My statement is written in Spanish. Is that a problem?
- The statement can be in Spanish and the oath can be given in Spanish. The notarial certificate goes in English, as Florida requires.
- Do I need witnesses?
- Affidavits usually need only the notary. If your form has witness lines, please arrange them in advance, since I cannot act as both notary and witness.