Notarial Acts & Their Differences
A North Carolina notary may take acknowledgments, take verifications or proofs (jurats), administer oaths and affirmations, and—with additional authorization—perform electronic and remote notarizations, all under G.S. Chapter 10B.
Notarial acts under Chapter 10B
North Carolina notaries take acknowledgments, administer oaths/affirmations, and take verifications or proofs (jurats). Each act has a prescribed certificate in the North Carolina Notary Public Manual. The notary must confirm personal appearance and identity, and, for a verification, administer the oath. Signature witnessing and copy certification of certain documents are handled per Chapter 10B rules.
Acknowledgment vs. verification (jurat)
In an acknowledgment the principal declares they signed voluntarily; the document may be pre-signed. In a verification or proof (jurat) the signer signs in the notary's presence and swears the statement is true. North Carolina uses the term 'verification or proof.' A non-attorney notary must not choose the act for the signer—that is unauthorized practice of law.