Acknowledge
To admit the existence, or truth of a statement and accept responsibility
Acknowledgement
A formal declaration made to authoritative witness by the person who executed the document that it was freely executed.
Acknowledgement Certificate
A written statement, affixed to an agreement, signed and sealed by an authorized official that states in a form, usually prescribed by law, that the official took the acknowledgment of the person who signed the agreement.
Administrer
To give or apply in a formal way.
Affiant
One who makes a swearing statement in an affidavit.
Affidavit
A written declaration made under oath before a notary public or other authorized officer.
Affirmation
To declare positively or firmly; maintain to be true. An affirmation replaces "swearing before God."
Affix
To secure (an object) to another; to attach; add to.
Apostille
Authentication document for Hague Convention members
Appointment
The act of designating for an office or position.
Attest
To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine; corroborate.
Attorney-In-Fact
Someone specifically named by another through a written 'power of attorney' to act for that person in the conduct of the appointer's business.
Authenticate
To prove or verify as genuine.
Certificate
1) A document testifying to a fact, qualification, or promise; or
2) A written statement legally authenticated.
Certified Copy
A document certified by a notary to be a true and correct copy of the original.
Civil Action
Not a criminal action. A lawsuit for the purpose of protection of private (not public) rights and compensation for their violation.
Civil Liability
The responsibility and obligation to make compensation to another person for damages caused by improper performance of duties and acts.
Closing Agent
Closing agents can be the lender, escrow, title, closing service companies, etc. A closing agent actually performs the closing process, which includes, disbursement of funds, the issuing of title insurance, if applicable and recording of the deed. In addition, the closing agent, if a notary, can also notarize the applicable documents in the loan package.
Commercial Paper
1) Any of various short-term negotiable papers originating in business transactions; or
2) A document whose purpose is to transfer money such as a check, bill of exchange or draft.
Commission
A document describing the notary's appointment and term of office.
Credible Witness
A believable witness worthy of confidence. Creates a chain of personally known individuals from the notary public to the signer of a document.
Deposition
Out of court testimony made under oath and recorded by an authorized officer for later use in court.
Dispose
To store in an orderly manner. In relation to notarial journal, to store for seven years.
Duress
Constraint by threat, coercion
Embosser
A pliers-like device, that when squeezed together with paper between the jaws, makes raised areas and indentations on paper. Used as a protection device. Not an official notary seal; but may be used in addition to the official notary seal.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
An insurance policy designed for the protection of the notary when held liable for honest mistakes. The insurance policy absorbs the notary's costs and financial liabilities up to an agreed limit.
Felony
A crime more serious than a misdemeanor and punishable by a more stringent sentence.
Journal of Notarial Acts
Notarial journal prescribed by law to record notarial acts.
Jurat
An affidavit declaring when, where, and before whom it was sworn.
Jurisdiction/Venue
The locality where a cause of action occurs. The state and county where a notarization takes place.
L.S. (locus sigili)
Indicates where the official notary seal imprint is to be placed. Latin term Locus Sigilli means "place of the seal."
Loose Certificate
A document with notarial wording that is separate from, and attached to, the document being notarized. It is used when no wording is provided on the document, when that provided wording does not comply with the state's requirements, when there is no room for the notary seal on the document, or when a preprinted certificate has already been used by another notary in the case of multiple signers.
Misconduct
Behavior not conforming to prevailing standards or laws.
Notary Journal
An official record book of notarizations performed by a notary. Required by law in the State of Oregon. All entries must be in chronological order and have all required fields completed at the time of notarization. If must be kept under the direct and exclusive control of the notary and kept in locked and/or secured area.
Notary Public
A person commissioned by a state government to serve the public as an impartial witness with duties specified by law. The notary has the power to witness the signing of documents and to administer oaths.
Notary Seal
An official stamp or embosser used by a notary to seal notarizations. It must be kept under the direct and exclusive control of the notary.
Notary Signing Agent
A Notary Public that is trained to do loan document signings.
Oath
A statement by a person who asserts it to be true, calling upon God as witness
Official Notary Seal
An official stamp or embosser used by a notary to seal notarizations. It must be kept under the direct and exclusive control of the notary.
Personal Appearance
A situation in which the signer appears with a notary from start to finish of the notarization.
Personally Known
Familiarity with an individual resulting from interactions with that individual over a period of time sufficient to eliminate every reasonable doubt that the individual has the identity claimed.
Power of Attorney
A legal instrument authorizing one to act as another's agent or attorney.
Resignation
Written statement that one is resigning a position or office.
Revoke
To cancel or rescind.
S.S. or SCT
Indicates where the notarization is performed. Latin term Silicet means "in particular" or "namely." Commonly referred to as jurisdiction.
Sanctions
The penalty for noncompliance specified in a law or decree.
Satisfactory Evidence
Sufficient means of identifying a signer which meets criteria set forth by law.
Signature by Mark
An "X" made in the place of a signature by a person unable to sign their name for whatever reason, and witnessed by the notary and two other persons.
Signing Agent
A Notary Public who has been specially trained to handle the execution and notarization of mortgage, refinancing and real estate transactions.
Signing Service
A company who subcontracts signing appointments to "Loan Document Signers" (Notary Public) for signing of loan documents and notarization. The sole purpose of this company is to act as a "Go-between" company, between the client and the notary public".
Subscribe
To sign one's name in attestation, testimony, or consent.
Subscribing Witness
A person who appears before the notary on behalf of the principal. The subscribing witness must have been requested and/or authorized by the principal to get the document notarized, must swear under oath or affirmation that they either saw the principal sign the document or heard the principal acknowledge that they signed the document, must sign the document before appearing in from of the notary or in the notary's presence, must establish identity through personal knowledge of the notary or through the oath or affirmation of a credible witness known to the subscribing witness and the notary, and must sign the notary's journal.
Suspend
To cause to stop for a period; interrupt.
Swear/Sworn
To make a solemn promise; to vow, usually before God.
Testimonial Clause
At the end of many documents and certificates that follows the form "witness my hand and seal" or some variation thereof.
Venue/Jurisdiction
The locality where a cause of action occurs. The state and county where a notarization takes place.
Verification
confirmation of the truth of a theory or fact.
Wavier of Fees
A statement which waives or gives up the right to charge for notarial services.
Witness
One who is called upon to be present at a transaction. When a person signs his name to an instrument, as a deed, a bond, and the like, to signify that the same was executed in his presence, he is called an attesting witness.





