Free tool
Does my document need a notary?
Check your document for the usual clues. We tell you what they mean and what to do next. No sign-up, nothing saved.
How it works
How to read the clues
An acknowledgment is when you confirm you signed the document willingly. The wording usually says "acknowledged before me." A jurat is when you swear or affirm the contents are true, with wording like "subscribed and sworn to before me." Either one is completed by a notary, who checks your photo ID and watches you sign. Witness lines are different. They need other adults to watch you sign, and a notary can't sign on those lines unless the document says so.
The most reliable answer always comes from the person or office asking for the document. If they told you it must be notarized, it must be. A notary cannot tell you which document you need or give legal advice.
FAQ
About this checker
Is this legal advice?
No. It explains what common wording on a document means. Only the office or person asking for the document can say what they require, and an attorney can tell you what the document does.
Should I sign before the notary arrives?
No. Leave it unsigned. The notary has to watch you sign, or have you confirm your signature, in front of them.
Can a notary tell me what to write or which form to use?
No. A notary checks identity, watches the signing and completes the notarial certificate. Drafting a document or choosing one is legal advice, which a notary can't give.
What if there is no notary wording at all?
Then nothing on the document itself calls for one, but the receiving office may still want it notarized or may add its own certificate. Ask them before you sign.
Not sure which service? Take the quiz, see the documents we notarize, or estimate the cost.