VERBAL CEREMONY FOR NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Assuring a signer whose signature is being acknowledged understands the document and is signing the document willingly is an essential function of a notary taking an acknowledgment.

It was recommended by the American Society of Notaries that notaries should perform a verbal ceremony for either an ACKNOWLEDGMENT or oath/affirmation (JURAT). "Acknowledged" means a notary heard the client reply "yes" or "I do" (or other similar words) to questions posed during the notarization. "Sworn to or affirmed" means the notary "performed a verbal ceremony for an oath or affirmation and heard the client reply in the affirmative as to the truthfulness of the document.