ELOUISIANANOTARY

Notarial Acts Reference Card

Quick guide to Louisiana notarial acts

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Purpose: Signer confirms they signed the document voluntarily and for the purposes stated.

When Used: Deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, contracts, real estate documents

Key Points:

Signer acknowledges their signature
No oath required
Document may be signed before appearing
Signer must appear before you to acknowledge

"On this ___ day of _______, 20__, before me personally appeared _____________, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he/she executed the same as his/her free act and deed."

JURAT (Oath/Affirmation)

Purpose: Signer swears or affirms the contents of the document are true.

When Used: Affidavits, sworn statements, depositions, applications

Key Points:

MUST administer oath or affirmation
Signer MUST sign in your presence
Signer swears content is true
False statements = perjury

"Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this ___ day of _______, 20__, by _____________."

Oath: "Do you solemnly swear that the statements in this document are true, so help you God?"

Affirmation: "Do you solemnly affirm that the statements in this document are true?"

COPY CERTIFICATION

Purpose: Certify that a copy is a true and accurate reproduction of an original document.

When Used: Diplomas, transcripts, licenses, personal documents

Key Points:

You must see the ORIGINAL document
Make the copy yourself OR compare copy to original
Cannot certify vital records (birth/death certificates)
Cannot certify publicly recorded documents

"I certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document presented to me this ___ day of _______, 20__."

SIGNATURE WITNESSING

Purpose: Witness and certify that a signature was made in your presence.

When Used: When document requires witnessed signature but not acknowledgment or oath

Key Points:

Signer MUST sign in your presence
Verify identity of signer
No oath required
You are certifying you witnessed the signing

⚡ QUICK DECISION GUIDE

Does the document say "Sworn" or "Subscribed and sworn"? → Use JURAT

Does it say "Acknowledged"? → Use ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Need to certify a copy is accurate? → Use COPY CERTIFICATION

Just need to witness a signature? → Use SIGNATURE WITNESSING

Not sure? → Ask who prepared the document or consult an attorney

⚠️ LOUISIANA-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Louisiana is a civil law state—some rules differ from other states
• Louisiana notaries have broader powers than most states
• Always use Louisiana-specific certificate wording
• When in doubt, consult Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 35