A New York notary statement is the certificate a notary attaches to a signed document, and state law prescribes two standard forms depending on what the signer is doing. If the signer is confirming they signed voluntarily, the notary uses an acknowledgment under Real Property Law § 309-a. If the signer is swearing the contents of the document are true, the notary uses a jurat. Both certificates carry the notary’s signature and the identifying information required by Executive Law § 137. Samples of each New York notary statement, along with the identification block that must appear beneath the notary’s signature, follow below.
Acknowledgment Sample
An acknowledgment is used for deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and most documents that get recorded with a county clerk. The signer is not swearing the document is true. They are confirming they signed it voluntarily, in the capacity they claim.
Real Property Law § 309-a sets the form. The certificate must read substantially as follows:
State of New York ) ss.:
County of ________ )
On the ____ day of ________ in the year ____, before me, the undersigned, personally appeared ____________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual(s) whose name(s) is (are) subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument, the individual(s), or the person upon behalf of which the individual(s) acted, executed the instrument.1New York State Senate. New York Real Property Law 309-A – Uniform Forms of Certificates of Acknowledgment or Proof Within This State
The word “substantially” in the statute allows minor variation, but drifting far from this language invites rejection. The date must be the actual day the signer appeared in front of the notary. The phrase “personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence” carries legal weight: the notary either already knows the signer or has verified identity through acceptable documentation, covered further down.
Real Property Law § 303 backs this up by prohibiting a notary from taking an acknowledgment unless the notary knows, or has satisfactory evidence, that the person is who they claim to be and who executed the document.1New York State Senate. New York Real Property Law 309-A – Uniform Forms of Certificates of Acknowledgment or Proof Within This State
Jurat Sample
A jurat is used when the signer needs to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true. Affidavits, court filings, and certain government forms require jurats. The signer is placed under oath.
The standard New York jurat reads:
Sworn to (or affirmed) before me this ____ day of ________, ____.
[Signature of Notary Public]
Two things separate a jurat from an acknowledgment. First, the notary must actually administer an oath or affirmation out loud and receive a clear affirmative response such as “I do” or “yes.” A nod is not enough. Civil Practice Law and Rules § 2309 requires the oath or affirmation to be “administered in a form calculated to awaken the conscience and impress the mind of the person taking it in accordance with his religious or ethical beliefs.” Second, the signer must sign in the notary’s physical presence. A document already signed before the signer walked in cannot lawfully get a jurat.
Oath or Affirmation
The signer chooses. An oath invokes God or a higher power. An affirmation is a pledge on personal honor with no religious reference. Both carry identical legal weight. The notary administers whichever form the signer selects and cannot steer the choice.
Information the Notary Must Print Beneath the Signature
Executive Law § 137 requires every notary to print, type, or stamp the following identifying information beneath their signature in black ink:
- The notary’s full name as it appears on the commission.
- The words “Notary Public State of New York.”
- The county where the notary originally qualified.
- The commission expiration date.
- If the notary filed a certificate of official character in another county, the words “Certificate filed [County Name] County.”
Notaries who qualified or filed in a county within New York City must also include the official number assigned by the county clerk at qualification.2New York State Senate. New York Code EXC – Statement as to Authority of Notaries Public Notaries outside the five boroughs do not need a registration number under the statute.
New York does not require a stamp or seal. Unlike most other states, the law only requires the identifying information to be printed, typed, or stamped in black ink beneath the signature. Many notaries use a rubber stamp for convenience, but the stamp itself is not required. A stamp that is used should include the notary’s name and the words “Notary Public for the State of New York.”
Missing any of the § 137 items is a common reason county clerks send documents back. The certificate has to be complete on its face.
Verifying the Signer’s Identity
Both certificate forms depend on the notary confirming who the signer is. Under 19 NYCRR § 182.5, a notary may verify identity through any of the following:
- A current, government-issued photo ID showing the bearer’s signature and physical description if applicable (front and back).
- At least two current documents issued by an institution, business, or government entity that include the signer’s signature.
- The notary’s own personal knowledge of the signer.
- One credible witness personally known to both the signer and the notary, who takes an oath confirming the signer’s identity.
- Two credible witnesses who personally know the signer, each taking an oath and presenting qualifying government-issued photo ID.
A current driver’s license, passport, or state-issued non-driver ID is the usual choice.3Legal Information Institute. 19 NYCRR 182.5 – Satisfactory Evidence of Identity The personal knowledge and credible witness options exist for signers who lack standard identification.
Fees
New York caps notary fees at $2.00 per act. That covers administering an oath or affirmation, taking an acknowledgment, and swearing each witness. Each additional person on the same document is another $2.00. A notary cannot charge more than this statutory maximum unless another law specifically authorizes a different fee.4New York State Senate. New York Executive Law 136 – Notarial Fees Electronic notarial acts performed through remote technology are set by regulation from the Secretary of State rather than the $2.00 cap.
Remote Notarization Uses the Same Forms
Executive Law § 135-c allows a notary physically located in New York to notarize documents for someone appearing by live audio-video technology, as long as the notary has registered with the Secretary of State to perform electronic notarial acts. The same acknowledgment and jurat certificate forms apply.5New York State Senate. New York Executive Law 135-C – Electronic Notarial Acts The notary’s identifying information is affixed by electronic means rather than ink, but the wording of the certificate does not change. Remote notarizations add requirements around encrypted transmission, multi-factor identity verification, and a ten-year retention period for the audio-video recording, but the language of the statement itself is identical to the in-person version.