Notary Acknowledgment Forms

Create Document

A notary acknowledgment is a written statement made by a notary public that verifies both the signature on a legal document and the identity of the signer. Once completed, it can be used to prove that the signature on the document is legitimate. A notary acknowledgment includes the name of the signatory, the date, and the notary’s signature and (if required) seal.

Notary Acknowledgment Forms

A notary acknowledgment is a written statement made by a notary public that verifies both the signature on a legal document and the identity of the signer. Once completed, it can be used to prove that the signature on the document is legitimate. A notary acknowledgment includes the name of the signatory, the date, and the notary’s signature and (if required) seal.

Create Document
PDF
Word (.docx)
OpenDocument
PDF
Word (.docx)
OpenDocument

Last updated January 21st, 2025

Document Preview

A notary acknowledgment is a written statement made by a notary public that verifies both the signature on a legal document and the identity of the signer. Once completed, it can be used to prove that the signature on the document is legitimate. A notary acknowledgment includes the name of the signatory, the date, and the notary’s signature and (if required) seal.

Downloads: 3,937

Is Online Notarization Legal?

Yes, Remote Online Notarization (RON) is recognized in almost every state.

However, the following states do not recognize RON: California, Georgia, and Mississippi.

By State

Purpose of a Notary Public

A notary public is an impartial witness to the signing of legal documents who is appointed by a government body, typically the secretary of state.

The purpose of notary acknowledgments is to confirm the identities of the signing parties and ensure they signed of their own free will.

Other Duties

Depending on the state where they are commissioned, notaries may be tasked with other duties, such as:

  • Authenticating copies of documents
  • Witnessing the opening of safety deposit boxes

How to Acknowledge a Signature

Step 1 – Appointment

An appointment with a notary public can be made through banks, law firms, post offices, libraries, and government offices.

Notaries can also be located using the Find a Notary Public on the American Society of Notaries website.

Step 2 – Identification

Whether the appointment is online or in person, the signatory must present the document to be notarized and valid forms of identification for the notary to review.

Unless the notary knows the signatory personally, they will verify the provided pieces of identification.

Step 3 – Signatures

The notary will review the signed document to ascertain what type of notarization is required and check for blank spaces to prevent fraudulent future alterations.

Once they are satisfied, the notary will witness the individual sign the document or have them confirm it’s their signature.

Step 4 – Acknowledgment

After the signature has been verified, the notary will complete the acknowledgment form, which will contain the date, their signature, and their official seal.

Online Notarization Laws: By State

View State Laws
STATE ONLINE NOTARIZATION? STATUTE FORM
Alabama Yes § 36-20-73.1 PDF
Alaska Yes § 44.50.075 PDF
Arizona Yes § 41-263 PDF
Arkansas Yes § 21-14-309 PDF
California No N/A PDF
Colorado Yes § 54-24-514.5 PDF
Connecticut Yes § 3-95b(b) PDF
Delaware Yes § 4320(c) PDF
Florida Yes Chapter 117, Part II PDF
Georgia No N/A PDF
Hawaii Yes § 456-23 PDF
Idaho Yes § 51-114A PDF
Illinois Yes § 6-102.5 PDF
Indiana Yes § 32-42-17-10 PDF
Iowa Yes § 9B.14A PDF
Kansas Yes § 53-5a15 PDF
Kentucky Yes § 423.455 PDF
Louisiana Yes § 623 PDF
Maine Yes § 1915 PDF
Maryland Yes § 18–214 PDF
Massachusetts Yes MGL ch. 222, §§27, 28 PDF
Michigan Yes § 55.286c PDF
Minnesota Yes § 358.645 PDF
Mississippi No N/A PDF
Missouri Yes §§ 486.1100 – 486.1250 PDF
Montana Yes § 1-5-603 PDF
Nebraska Yes § 64-408 PDF
Nevada Yes NRS 240.181 – 240.206 PDF
New Hampshire Yes § 456-B:6-a PDF
New Jersey Yes § 52:7-10.10 PDF
New Mexico Yes § 14-14A-5 PDF
New York Yes NY EXC § 135-c PDF
North Carolina Yes Chapter 10B – Article 2 PDF
North Dakota Yes § 44-06.1-13.1 PDF
Ohio Yes § 147.62, § 147.64, Rule 111:6-1-04 PDF
Oklahoma Yes Remote Online Notary Act (§ 201 – § 214) PDF
Oregon Yes ORS § 194.305 and Or. Admin. R. 160-100-0140 PDF
Pennsylvania Yes § 306.1 and § 320 PDF
Rhode Island Yes §§ 42-30.1-12.1, 12.2 PDF
South Carolina Yes Title 26, Chapter 2 PDF
South Dakota Yes § 18-1-11.1 PDF
Tennessee Yes § 8-16-307 PDF
Texas Yes § 406.106 PDF
Utah Yes § 46-4-205 PDF
Vermont Yes § 47.1-6.1 PDF
Virginia Yes § 5379 PDF
Washington Yes  § 42.45.280 PDF
West Virginia Yes § 39-4-37 PDF
Wisconsin Yes § 140.145 PDF
Wyoming Yes § 32-3-111 PDF

Sample

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of [STATE]
County of [COUNTY]

On [MM/DD/YYYY] before me, [NOTARY PUBLIC NAME], personally appeared [SIGNER NAME], who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of [STATE] that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature: ________________________

(Seal)