If you’ve ever binge-watched Law & Order on a Saturday night, you might have constantly heard the term “affidavit.” This term is usually used in a courtroom setting and is known to be an important document, regardless of the case.

So, what is an affidavit, and what do you need to know about notarizing it?

Preparing an Affidavit

An affidavit is a legal document that is used in court. It is usually filed by an affiant as evidence. However, in order for the court to accept it, it must be notarized by a notary public.

You will find that there are two kinds of judicial notarizations: a jurat and an acknowledgment.

A notary public’s job is to ensure that the signature on the document is valid and that the person who signed it has not been coerced or pressurized in any possible way. As soon as the affiant has acknowledged the document’s validity and ensured that everything is up to date, the document becomes notarized and is admitted as a sworn affidavit.

In a court setting, you will often hear the terms “affidavit” and “affiant.” However, other platforms also use these terms. Based on the state you live in, you may have to provide an affidavit for several transactions.

Getting an Affidavit Notarized

At SLO Notary, we work with our client’s schedules. We ensure that our clients are comfortable and can get their affidavit notarized by us without feeling stressed or pressured.

Here is how you can get an affidavit notarized:

• When notarizing an affidavit, you must make sure that, as a signer, you show up to the notary office in person and sign before the authorities.
• Make sure that the document is completely filled out. You do not want to leave any blanks or alter any information. If you need to make any corrections, do so by verifying them so that you do not waste the notary’s time.
• Allow the notary to verify your identity. You will be told to present a form of identification that has been issued to you by the government. This can be a passport or driver’s license.
• Make sure that you sign the document willingly. If there is any pressure or someone is harassing you, make sure to tell your notary.
• Complete the notarization. Ask the authorities if there is anything you do not understand.
• Once you have submitted the form, the notary will record the document in their notary journal. This is so that the document can be used safely in the future.