Utah Notary Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT one of the three listed acts performed by a notary?

1. Signature Witness

2. Jurat

3. Affidavit

4. Acknowledgement

The correct answer is: Affidavit

A notary performs a variety of functions designed to ensure the integrity and authenticity of documents. Among the established duties, signature witnessing, jurats, and acknowledgements are all recognized acts. Signature witnessing involves the notary verifying the identity of the signer and watching them sign the document. A jurat requires the signer to appear before the notary, who then administers an oath affirming the truthfulness of the content of the document. An acknowledgment is a declaration by the signer before the notary that they understand the document and are signing it voluntarily. An affidavit, on the other hand, is a written statement that the affiant swears is true, typically used as evidence in legal proceedings. It is a document rather than an act performed by the notary. While a notary may be involved in the witnessing of an affidavit (for example, by administering a jurat for the affidavit), the act itself of creating an affidavit does not fall under the traditional duties of notarization as defined by state law. Thus, the affidavit is not one of the specified acts that notaries perform.