GENERAL NOTARY INFORMATION

Acknowledgements
An Acknowledgement is used to verify the identity of the signer and to confirm that they signed the document. They are not swearing to the truthfulness or validity of the document, they are simply acknowledging that they signed the document. For an acknowledgement in the state of New York, a signer is not required to sign the document in the presence of the notary public, but they are required to personally appear in front of the notary to confirm their signature.

Jurat
A Jurat is used when the signer is swearing to the content of the document. The notary must administer an oath or affirmation to the signer in order to complete the jurat. A jurat also requires that the signer signs in the presence of the notary. It is possible to glean this information from the jurat certificate its self. The wording states “Subscribed and sworn to before me…” – subscribed meaning “signed” and sworn meaning that an oral oath or affirmation was given. “Before me” means that both were done in the presence of the notary public.

Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney is an instrument which gives the person you name (the agent) wide powers to manage your property and financial matters while you are living. The person granting the agent the power is called the principal, and must be signed while mentally competent to understand the nature of the act.