You’ve found your ID. You’ve located the document. You’ve cleared a space on the table, which, in a New York apartment, may have required relocating an entire home office.
Then your notary asks you to swear.
Suddenly, a Tuesday afternoon has taken on a courtroom quality.
Don’t worry. You haven’t accidentally agreed to testify against anyone. Some notarizations require you to make a formal promise that the statements in your document are true. And when that promise is required, you have two options: an oath or an affirmation.
What’s the difference?
An oath is a solemn promise to tell the truth that invokes God or a higher power.
An affirmation is a solemn promise to tell the truth without a religious reference.
In New York, an affirmation is legally equivalent to an oath and just as binding. You can be religious and prefer an affirmation. You can also simply feel more comfortable with its wording. There’s no need to turn your appointment into a discussion of your spiritual journey. We have paperwork to finish.
What will I actually have to say?
Your notary will administer the oath or affirmation and ask for a clear response.
For an affirmation, you might hear:
“Do you solemnly affirm that the statements in this document are true and correct?”
You answer “Yes” or “I do.”
That’s the exchange. No speech to prepare. No lines to memorize. No need to project to the back of the room.
Does every notarization involve this?
No. A jurat, commonly used for affidavits and other sworn statements, requires an oath or affirmation. An acknowledgment does not.
If you’re unsure which notarization your document needs, check with the person or organization requesting it, or your attorney. Your notary can explain the difference, but cannot make that choice for you.
At Townhouse Notary, we’ll explain what’s happening before asking you to do it. A little formality is part of the process. Feeling intimidated doesn’t have to be.
And if you swear while searching for your ID, that’s a separate matter.
