jurat

A jurat is a clause used in affidavits and other sworn statements, certifying that the declarant swore to the truth of the document before an authorized official on a specified date and at a specified place. It serves to authenticate that the statements within the document were made under oath rather than merely signed.

The term jurat originates from Latin, related to the verb jurare, meaning to swear. In many common law jurisdictions, jurats are attached to affidavits and other sworn documents and are completed by a notary public, commissioner for oaths, or another official empowered to administer oaths. The jurat typically appears as a short certificate stating that the document was sworn or affirmed before the officer, followed by the officer’s name, title, signature, and, where available, seal.

Contents and typical phrasing: A jurat usually includes the place and date of the oath, the name of the person who swore to the statements, a statement that the person swore to the truth of the contents, and the signature and official title (and seal) of the administering officer. A common form is “Subscribed and sworn to before me this [day] of [month], [year] by [name].”

Distinction from an acknowledgment: A jurat is used when the deponent takes an oath, whereas an acknowledgment attests only that the signer’s identity and signature were established before the official, without an oath. Notaries, commissioners for oaths, and similar officials administer jurats.