E-signatures · Glossary
What is a jurat?
A jurat is the certificate at the end of an affidavit or sworn statement in which an authorised official, such as a notary, justice of the peace or lawyer, records that the person swore or affirmed the contents and signed in front of them, with the place and date. It proves the oath, not the truth of the statement.
A jurat turns a signed statement into a sworn one. It is the official's part of the page, and without it an affidavit is just a letter.
Nuwan Madhusanka · Co-founder
4 min read · Published
| Certificate | What the official confirms | Typical document |
|---|---|---|
| Jurat | The person swore or affirmed the contents and signed in the official's presence | Affidavit, sworn statement |
| Acknowledgment | The person appeared, was identified and acknowledged signing the document | US deeds and land documents |
| Witness attestation | The witness saw the person sign | Deeds, wills, some agreements |
| Statutory declaration witness | The person declared the contents true before an authorised witness | Australian statutory declaration |
What a jurat contains
A jurat sits at the foot of an affidavit. It usually states sworn or affirmed at a place on a date, before a named official, with the official's signature, title or qualification, and sometimes a seal or stamp. The deponent, the person making the statement, signs beside it. Cornell's Legal Information Institute describes the jurat as the clause stating when, where and before whom the affidavit was sworn. The official is not vouching for the facts; they are recording that the oath was taken, so a false statement is perjury.
Jurat or acknowledgment
The distinction matters most in the United States, where notaries perform both. In an acknowledgment, the signer appears before the notary, is identified, and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily, often for deeds being recorded. In a jurat, the signer swears or affirms the contents and signs in front of the notary. A notary cannot choose between them; the document or the receiving office decides which certificate it needs.
In Australia and the UK
Australian affidavits for court are sworn or affirmed before people such as a lawyer or a justice of the peace, under each court's rules, and end with a jurat. Statutory declarations, used outside court, are made before an authorised witness listed in regulations, such as those under the Commonwealth Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and carry the witness's details rather than a classic jurat. In England and Wales, affidavits are sworn before a solicitor or commissioner for oaths. This page is general information; the court or agency receiving the document sets the form.
Common mistakes
Signing the affidavit before meeting the official, so the signature was not made in their presence. Leaving the place or date blank in the jurat. Using a jurat where the receiving office asked for an acknowledgment. And treating a statutory declaration as an affidavit, or the reverse, when the receiving agency expects a specific form.
Sworn documents and the product
The e-sign module collects electronic signatures with an audit trail and a certificate of completion that records each signer's verification method, signing time and IP address, but it does not administer oaths and has no notary or witness role. Affidavits and statutory declarations follow the rules of the court or agency that will receive them, including any rules on electronic or remote witnessing.
Questions people ask
Is a jurat the same as notarising a document?
A jurat is one kind of notarial act in places with notaries, alongside acknowledgments and certified copies. In Australia, most affidavits are sworn before lawyers or justices of the peace rather than notaries, and they still end with a jurat. Notarisation in the narrow sense is usually for documents going overseas.
Can an affidavit be sworn by video call?
Some jurisdictions allow it for some documents, often under rules introduced or extended after 2020, with conditions on identity checks and how the signed pages are handled. Others still require the deponent and the official in the same room. Check the court's current practice note before arranging a remote swearing.
What is the difference between swearing and affirming?
Swearing is an oath, traditionally on a religious text. Affirming is a solemn promise without religious reference. Both carry the same legal weight and the same penalties for a false statement. The jurat records which one was made, for example sworn at or affirmed at, followed by the place and date.
Does the official read the affidavit?
Not usually in detail. The official checks the deponent's identity, administers the oath or affirmation, watches the signature and completes the jurat, and should initial any alterations and annexures. Responsibility for the content stays with the deponent, which is why the oath, not the official's reading, is what matters.
What happens if the jurat is wrong?
The court or agency may refuse the document, or require it to be sworn again. A missing date, an unidentified official or a deponent who signed beforehand are common reasons. The underlying statement may still be used later if properly sworn, but the delay can matter when a deadline is close.
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Send a document for signingRelated questions
- Notarisation against electronic signatureNotarisation verifies identity before an authorised officer. An electronic signature records intent. When a document needs one, the other, or both.
- What is an attestation clause?What is an attestation clause: the words a witness signs to confirm they saw a document signed, when wills and deeds need one, and the testimonium.
- Do electronic signatures need a witness?Most contracts need no witness. Deeds, some land documents and statutory declarations do, and the rules on remote witnessing differ by jurisdiction.
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Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .