AR Notary AR Notary Oaths, Affirmations, and Jurats 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of an oath administered by an Arkansas notary?
- To compel a person to tell the truth under penalty of perjury (Correct answer)
- To certify that a document is an original
- To verify a signer's identity
- To create a legal contract between two parties
Correct answer: To compel a person to tell the truth under penalty of perjury
An oath compels the affiant to tell the truth under penalty of perjury.
Question 2: What is the key difference between an oath and an affirmation in Arkansas notarial practice?
- An affirmation does not invoke a religious or divine reference (Correct answer)
- An affirmation requires the signer to raise their right hand
- An oath is only valid for legal documents
- An affirmation is only used for government documents
Correct answer: An affirmation does not invoke a religious or divine reference
An affirmation is a solemn, secular promise that carries the same legal weight as an oath without a religious reference.
Question 3: When is a jurat notarization typically required on a document?
- When the signer must swear or affirm the truthfulness of the document's contents (Correct answer)
- When the signer needs to prove ownership of real property
- When the document must be filed with a foreign government
- When the notary certifies a copy of an original
Correct answer: When the signer must swear or affirm the truthfulness of the document's contents
A jurat is used when the law or document requires the signer to take an oath or affirmation regarding the truth of the contents.
Question 4: What must a signer physically do when a jurat is being completed by an Arkansas notary?
- Sign the document in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation (Correct answer)
- Mail the signed document to the notary for sealing
- Provide two forms of government-issued ID
- Present a witness who can vouch for the document's contents
Correct answer: Sign the document in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation
For a jurat, the signer must sign in the notary's presence and personally take the administered oath or affirmation.
Question 5: Can an Arkansas notary administer an oath over the telephone under standard (non-remote) notarization rules?
- No, the signer must be physically present before the notary (Correct answer)
- Yes, as long as the notary can hear the signer's voice clearly
- Yes, if the signer sends a signed affidavit afterward
- No, only judges may administer oaths by telephone
Correct answer: No, the signer must be physically present before the notary
Standard notarization in Arkansas requires the signer to be physically present before the notary when an oath is administered.
Question 6: Which phrase is most commonly found in an Arkansas jurat certificate?
- Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me (Correct answer)
- Known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed
- I certify this to be a true and correct copy
- Acknowledged before me this day
Correct answer: Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me
The phrase 'subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me' is the standard language appearing in a jurat certificate.
AR Notary AR Notary Oaths, Affirmations, and Jurats 1
What is the primary purpose of an oath administered by an Arkansas notary?