Online notarized affidavit: how to get a jurat done on video

Notaries perform different notarial acts, and an affidavit calls for a specific one.

• An acknowledgment confirms that the signer is who they say they are and that they signed willingly. It says nothing about whether the contents are true. Deeds and powers of attorney are acknowledged.
• A jurat confirms that the signer appeared before the notary, took an oath or affirmation that the contents are true, and signed in the notary's presence. Affidavits and sworn statements get a jurat.

The difference is not cosmetic. A false statement in a sworn affidavit can be perjury, and the jurat is the notary's record that the oath was taken. If an affidavit arrives with an acknowledgment certificate instead of a jurat, the recipient may reject it.

1. 1 The sender uploads the affidavit and marks the signature field and the notary's jurat certificate.
2. 2 The signer opens a secure link and reviews the statement.
3. 3 The signer passes identity checks: credential analysis of a government-issued photo ID, knowledge-based questions and a liveness selfie.
4. 4 The notary joins the video and compares the signer with the ID.
5. 5 The notary administers the oath or affirmation. Typically the signer is asked whether they swear or affirm that the statements in the document are true, and answers aloud.
6. 6 The signer signs electronically while the notary watches.
7. 7 The notary completes the jurat, with the statement that the act involved communication technology, and applies the digital seal and certificate.

The oath is captured in the session recording, and the audit trail records the time of the oath and of each signature.

Signers who prefer not to swear an oath can affirm instead. An affirmation is a solemn declaration on the signer's honor and has the same legal effect. The notary asks which the signer prefers and uses the matching wording.

Federal law and many states allow an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury in place of a sworn affidavit for many purposes. In federal matters, for example, a declaration signed with the statutory wording can usually replace an affidavit. Other recipients, such as many county recorders, title insurers, foreign authorities and some state agencies, still require a notarized affidavit. When in doubt, ask the recipient which form it accepts.

• A valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, a state ID or a passport.
• A device with a camera and microphone, and a current browser.
• A final version of the affidavit. The notary does not draft or change the statement and cannot advise on its contents.
• Knowledge of the facts in the statement, since the signer swears to them.

If the affidavit needs a witness, the witness joins the same video session.

• Owner's affidavits and affidavits of title at real estate closings. See notary & title services.
• Affidavits of identity and occupancy for lenders. See notary services for business.
• Name-change affidavits and employment declarations. See company notary.
• Litigation affidavits and sworn statements for law firms.
• Vendor and compliance affidavits for corporate operations.

When your team needs affidavits notarized every week, a monthly plan with sessions included keeps the cost predictable, and templates put the jurat certificate in the right place every time. Every session produces the same evidence record: identity results, the recording reference with the oath and a tamper-evident sealed PDF. See how to notarize documents online.