Notarial Acts & Their Differences
An Ohio notary may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, take verifications/affidavits (jurats), witness or attest signatures, and—if separately authorized as an online notary—perform online notarizations.
Notarial acts under the Modernization Act
Ohio's Notary Public Modernization Act authorizes acknowledgments, oaths/affirmations, jurats (verifications on oath or affirmation), and signature witnessing. Each act has prescribed certificate wording. The notary confirms the signer's personal appearance and identity, and—for jurats—administers the oath before the signer signs.
Acknowledgment vs. jurat in Ohio
An acknowledgment confirms the signer executed the document willingly and may be signed beforehand. A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence and swear the contents are true. Ohio notaries must apply the certificate the document specifies and may not choose the act for the signer, which would be unauthorized practice of law.