AFFIRM
To make a solemn, formal declaration under the penalty of perjury that certain statements are true. An affirmation is legally equivalent to an
... [Show More] oath and may be substituted for an oath when a document requires an oath for its execution, i.e., an affidavit.
APOSTILLE
A certificate of notarial authority issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for notarized documents being sent out of Pennsylvania to those countries who are parties to the international treaty commonly known as the Hague Convention.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
A formal declaration before an authorized individual (a notary public) by a person signing an instrument that such execution is his or her free act and deed. The term also refers to the notary's certificate on the document indicating that it was so acknowledged.
ADMINISTER
To discharge the duties of an office; to give (as in the giving of an oath).
AFFIDAVIT
A written statement of facts made voluntarily and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it before an individual authorized to administer oaths, i.e., a notary public.
AFFIX
To attach or impress the notary seal to a document.
ATTEST
To bear witness to or to certify.
CERTIFIED COPY
A copy of a document or record, signed and certified as a true copy by the public official who has custody of the original record. NOTE: A notary may make an "attested photocopy," but not a certified copy. A certified copy is not the same as an original document.
COMMISSION
The term used for the length of time you are appointed as a notary public by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
CUSTODIAN OF THE DOCUMENT
The person who has charge or custody of the document. In the case of making an attested photocopy, the "document's custodian" is the person presenting the document, who may or may not be the document signer.
DEPONENT
The person giving testimony in a deposition.
DEPOSITION
The testimony of a witness, under oath or affirmation, taken outside of court in which lawyers ask oral questions of the witness. The testimony is usually reduced to writing and duly authenticated and is intended to be used in a trial of a civil action or a criminal prosecution.
EXECUTE A DOCUMENT
To perform all formalities necessary to make a document fully effective; often a matter of signing, but may require delivery or other elements.
FREE ACT AND DEED
To admit one's act and assume the responsibility for it.
INSTRUMENT
A written document.
JURAT
The written notarial certificate on any sworn statement or affidavit completed by the notary public indicating that the document was sworn or affirmed to by the signer.
MALFEASANCE
The doing of an act which a person ought not to do at all.
MISFEASANCE
The improper doing of an act which a person might lawfully do.
NEGLIGENCE
The failure to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful person would use under similar circumstances.
NOTARIAL ACTS
The official acts of a notary public administering an oath, taking an acknowledgment, attesting to a photocopy, or any other act authorized by law.
NOTARIAL CERTIFICATE
A written statement made by the notary public certifying specific facts of the notarial act performed.
OATH
Any form of attestation or pledge by which a person signifies that he or she is bound in conscience and out of a sense of responsibility to a Supreme Being to the truthfulness for some statement. Willfully swearing to untrue statements constitutes perjury.
PENNSYLVANIA NOTARY PUBLIC
A qualified individual appointed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth whose function is to administer oaths; to take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments; to attest to photocopies of certain documents; and to perform other duties specified by law.
PERJURY
Making a false statement under oath or affirmation. Perjury is a felony punishable by a fine and/or prison term.
PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE
Having an acquaintance derived from association with an individual in relation to other people and based upon a chain of circumstances surrounding he individual, which establishes the individual's identity. (Section 12.1(a)).
PRINCIPAL
The person making the power of attorney.
SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE
Means the reliance on the presentation of a current, government-issued identification card bearing a photograph OR signature OR physical description AND serial or identification number OR the oath or affirmation of a credible witness who is personally known to the notary and who personally knows the individual.
SUBSCRIBE
To sign a document.
SWEAR
To take an oath.
Personal appearance
At the time of notarization, you must be able to observe and interact, see, hear, and communicate with the signer in the same language or through an interpreter. Must be able to give ID to each other without phone, computer, camera or fax. [Show Less]