An acknowledgment is probably the most common form of notarial act a notary performs. An acknowledgment basically identifies the signer of a document and proves to a concerned party that the signature is actually theirs. Usually the acknowledgment takes place before a notary public but it can be before a judge or a city official such as a mayor. The acknowledgment can be used for just about any kind of document including mortgage loan docs, powers of attorney, wills, business documents, parental permission slips, deeds and a myriad of other documents.
An acknowledgment requires that the person signing the document must appear in person before the notary or government official. The signer is required to appear before the notary at the time of notarization though the document may be signed by the person prior to the notarization. A few states, notably Virginia and Montana permit the appearance to take place via webcam if the situation requires it.
The notary should always review the document before proceeding with the acknowledgment. There should be no blank spaces anywhere on the document and all pages must be there. The certificate should be included as it lets you know what type of notarization is required. If it’s not, you must ask them if they require an acknowledgment, a jurat or other notarial act.
The signer must show positive official identification based on the rules of the state in which the notarization is taking place. Once you verified their i.d. you should ask them if they are signing the document willingly. Be sure they are coherent and aware of what they are signing. If the document has already been signed ask the person to acknowledge that the signature is theirs. They should be asked to declare (acknowledge) that they are signing the document for its intended purpose.
You should record the notarization in a bound notarial journal. State the time and date, the type of notarization, a description, the signer’s full name and address, the method of identification used and the fee charged. Each state may have some different requirements that must be followed.
At this point you should fill out the certificate, sign it and affix your seal. Keep in mind that each state has its own requirements when it comes to the working. Check with your state to be certain you are using the correct working.
It is again noteworthy to state that the notary may not determine the type of notarial act that is required. If the signer is not sure, then they should refer back to the person who drafted the document or the person who is requesting it.