ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The purpose of an "Acknowledgment" is to ensure that the document’s signer is who they claim to be and has voluntarily signed the document.
Acknowledgments often are needed for documents concerning valuable assets, such as deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney and deeds of trust.

* To perform an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear before a Notary Public at the time of notarization to be positively identified and to declare — or “acknowledge” — that the signature on the document is their own and that they signed willingly.

JURATS

The purpose of a jurat is for a signer to swear or affirm that the contents of a document are true. Depending on the jurisdiction, it can also be known as an affidavit, a verification on oath, or an affirmation.
For a jurat, the signer must personally appear before a Notary Public and sign the document in their presence. The Notary Public must then administer an oath or affirmation and have the signer speak aloud his or her promise that the statements in the document are true.

* The choice between an oath or affirmation should be made by the signer.

*** A person who takes an oath or affirmation in connection with an official proceeding may be prosecuted for perjury should he or she fail to be truthful.

OATHS/AFFIRMATIONS

Sometimes, a client may simply need a Notary Public to administer an oath or affirmation orally rather than as part of a jurat​, affidavit, or other written document. The purpose of administering a verbal oath or affirmation is, again, to compel a client to truthfulness.

* An "OATH" is a solemn pledge to a Supreme Being.

* An "AFFIRMATION" is a solemn pledge on the individual’s personal honor.

Again, the choice should be made by the signer.

CERTIFIED COPIES

A "copy certification" confirms that a reproduction of an original document is a full, true, and accurate transcription or reproduction of the original.

Documents requiring copy certification may include diplomas, driver’s licenses, leases, contracts, vehicle titles, Social Security cards, medical records, and bills of sale.

To perform a copy certification, the person in possession of an original document (also known as the “document custodian”) takes the original document to a Notary. The Notary typically makes a photocopy of the document and completes a certificate for the copy certification to confirm that the photocopy is a true, accurate, and complete copy of the original.

Signature witnessing

Some states authorize Notaries to perform a signature witnessing. With this notarial act, The Notary is to certify that the individual appearing before them is who he or she claims to be, and the signature on the record is the signature of that individual.

The main difference between a signature witnessing and an acknowledgment is that you witness the document being signed. The main difference between a signature witnessing and a jurat, affidavit, or verification upon oath or affirmation is that, with a signature witnessing, you do not administer an oath.