Acknowledgment vs. jurat — which do I use?

One-sentence answer

Acknowledgments confirm that a person signed a document voluntarily. Jurats add an oath that the contents of the document are true.

If the document’s certificate says “acknowledged before me” — it’s an acknowledgment. If it says “sworn to (or affirmed) before me” — it’s a jurat. Pick the one that matches the certificate wording the document already specifies.

The mechanical difference

	Acknowledgment	Jurat
Notary certifies	The signer’s identity and voluntary signature	The signer’s identity, presence, and sworn oath
Signer must swear?	No	Yes — “Do you swear (or affirm) that the contents are true?”
Signer must sign in notary’s presence?	No — signature can pre-exist	Yes — signature must be made in the notary’s presence
Certificate language	”Acknowledged before me"	"Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me”
Governing section	57 Pa.C.S. § 305(a)	57 Pa.C.S. § 305(b)

The most common mistake

Treating every notarization as an acknowledgment. Affidavits, declarations under penalty of perjury, depositions, and most court filings require jurats. If you skip the oath ceremony on an affidavit, the document’s validity can be challenged — and under § 323, the notary is exposed to discipline for certifying something that didn’t happen.

The cleanest habit: read the certificate block on the document before you do anything. The pre-printed certificate tells you which act the document demands. If it says “sworn to,” administer the oath. If it says “acknowledged,” you do not administer an oath.

The oath script (for jurats)

Any variation of the following, spoken aloud, works under § 305(b):

“Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that the statements in this document are true, to the best of your knowledge and belief?”

The signer answers “I do” (or “I affirm”) in your presence. Only then do you sign and stamp the certificate.

When in doubt

If the document lacks a clear certificate block, or if the signer isn’t sure which they need, don’t guess. Ask:

“Is this a statement you need to swear to, or just proof that you signed it?”
Or: “Does this go into court, or is it a contract/deed/power of attorney?”

Court-bound documents (affidavits, declarations, verifications) are almost always jurats. Transactional documents (deeds, powers of attorney, contracts, vehicle titles) are almost always acknowledgments.

If still unsure, refer the signer back to the attorney or agency that requested the notarization. Do not improvise the certificate wording — under § 315, the certificate must match the act.

Fee consequence

Both acts carry the same $5 maximum fee under 4 Pa. Code § 167.3 (or $25 when performed via Remote Online Notarization). Don’t let the fee confusion make you sloppy about which act you actually performed: the journal entry and the certificate must match.