- Explanation of $25 Application Fee
- Revised Statutes of Missouri, Chapter 486 (Notaries Public)
- General Information
- Application and Appointment
- Qualifying at the County Clerk’s Office
- Term of Office
- Notary Public Bond
- Embosser Seal and Rubber Stamp
- Journal
- Reapplying
- Fees
- Amended Commissions (Name change, county change, address change)
- Non-resident Notary Change of Employment in Same or Different County
- Resignation of a Notary Commission
- Official Misconduct
- Applicable Law
- Possible Disqualification
- Executing Witness
- Fees Allowed for Swearing in Notaries
- Court Reporters Qualified to Give Oaths
- Other Notary Information
- Proper Notarization
- Sample Affirmations
- Glossary
- Document Certification Information
Missouri Notary Public Handbook
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Glossary
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1. The act of admitting or recognizing the existence of an agreement by signing as evidence of one’s intention that the agreement shall be binding and in full force and effect. 2. The certificate affixed to the document (See Acknowledgment, Certificate of.)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, CERTIFICATE OF A written statement, affixed to an agreement, signed and sealed by an authorized official that states in a form, usually prescribed by law, that the official took the acknowledgment of the person who signed the agreement.
AFFIANT The person who takes an oath or affirmation. The person to whom an oath or affirmation is administered. Sometimes called a deponent.
AFFIDAVIT A document that contains a statement, made under oath or affirmation, signed by the affiant and a jurat (certificate) signed and sealed by a notary.
AFFIRMATION A solemn statement, equivalent by law to an oath, but without religious significance or reference to a Supreme Being.
CERTIFICATE A written statement, signed by an official, describing acts performed in an official capacity.
JURAT Latin, “to swear.” The certificate signed and sealed by a notary which is affixed below the sworn or affirmed statement and signature of the affiant.
L.S. (LOCUS SIGILLI) Latin, “The location where the seal is placed.” Used generally to indicate the place for the notary’s seal.
NOTARY PUBLIC A person appointed by a state official to serve the public as a disinterested witness, to take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, and to perform such other acts as are allowed or required by law.
OATH A solemn pledge or promise. (A person who intentionally makes false statements under oath is punishable for perjury.)
S.S. (SCILICET) Latin, “to wit, namely.” Printed near the venue of a certificate or acknowledgment.
SUBSCRIBE To sign, to write one’s signature.
TESTIMONIUM CLAUSE At the end of many documents and certificates that follows the form “witness my hand and seal” or some variation thereof
VENUE 1. The place where the act is performed. 2. The place on the certificate that gives the location where the notarization was performed. 3. The place where a trial is held.