Jurat vs Acknowledgement

Jurat vs Acknowledgement

When a Virginia Notary Public swears in client and then has the person sign, this is a jurat. The person making the statements could be prosecuted for perjury if the person knew that they were false. The notary does not guarantee the truthfulness or accuracy of the document.

When the Notary Public has the client sign the document, this is called an acknowledgement. In both cases the Notary has checked the signor's government picture identification, recorded the signor's signature in the notary's book, signed the notarized document, stated the location and date of the notary act, written the notary's number, and written down whether the notary act was a jurat(sworn) or an acknowledgement. In neither of these cases does the notary guarantee that the document is truthful or accurate.