Utah Notary Practice Test

What is a jurat?

1. A certification that a document has been recorded

2. A notarial act in which the signer swears to the truth of the contents

3. A document that requires notary endorsement

4. A record of notarial acts performed by the notary

The correct answer is: A notarial act in which the signer swears to the truth of the contents

A jurat is a specific notarial act in which the signer of a document swears or affirms that the contents of the document are true and correct. During this process, the notary public administers an oath or affirmation to the individual, who must then sign the document in the presence of the notary. The notary's role is to verify the identity of the signer and ensure they understand the seriousness of their declaration. The notary will then complete the jurat by adding their signature and seal, indicating that they witnessed the signing and the affirmation of truthfulness by the signer. The other choices do not accurately describe a jurat. For example, a certification that a document has been recorded refers to a different notarial act related to the recording of documents, whereas a document that requires notary endorsement is a general reference to documents needing a notary's signature but does not specify the act of swearing to the truthfulness of its contents. Lastly, a record of notarial acts performed by the notary pertains to the notary’s journal and administrative responsibilities rather than the specific act of administering a jurat.