Notary public

A public official authorized to witness signatures, administer oaths, and certify documents or acts as legally authentic. The office’s powers and procedures vary by jurisdiction.

Acknowledgment (law): A formal declaration before an authorized officer that a person signed a document voluntarily. Notaries commonly take acknowledgments to establish that a signature was made willingly.
Notarial certificate: The portion of a notarized document recording the notarial act, its date, place, and official details. It records which act the notary performed and supplies evidence of that act.
Notario público: A Spanish-language title whose meaning and legal powers vary widely across countries and legal systems. In some countries it describes a highly trained legal professional, unlike many U.S. notaries.
Roman notary: A shorthand writer and record keeper in ancient Rome who documented speeches, proceedings, and transactions. Roman notaries supplied an early model for officials who record and attest legal acts.
Affidavit: A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation before an authorized person. A notary may administer the oath that gives an affidavit its sworn status.
Jurat: A notarial certificate stating that a person swore to or affirmed a statement before an authorized officer. A notary uses a jurat when a document’s signer must swear or affirm its contents.
Notary seal: An official stamp or embossing used by a notary to authenticate a notarial certificate. The seal helps identify the official and may be required for a certificate to be valid.
Solicitor: A lawyer who advises clients and performs legal work, especially in jurisdictions using the solicitor-barrister distinction. A notary generally authenticates acts rather than providing the legal representation a solicitor offers.
Civil law notary: A legally trained public officer in civil-law systems who authenticates instruments and may provide legal services. This profession developed broader legal responsibilities than the typical common-law notary.
Document authentication: Verification that a document or signature is genuine and attributable to its stated source. Notarization is one method of authentication, though it does not prove every statement in a document.

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