When a person signing a legal document such as an affidavit (known as the affiant) is required to swear to or affirm the affiant’s personal knowledge of the facts stated in the affidavit and their truthfulness, the affiant’s spoken statement swearing to or affirming the facts must be made in the presence of a licensed person known as a notary public (notary).

Affidavits are required to support legal documents ranging from a search warrant, to a self-proving will, to certain documents filed with the court in litigation.

A jurat is a brief statement that usually appears at the end of a legal document such as an affidavit and serves as certification that the notary administered an oath or affirmation to the affiant; that the affiant swore to or affirmed the affiant’s personal knowledge of the facts stated in the affidavit and that the facts are true and correct; that the affiant signed the affidavit in the presence of the notary; and that the affiant signed the affidavit on the date indicated in the jurat.

The jurat typically identifies the state and county in which the affidavit is signed and includes words such as “Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned notary public, by __________(affiant) on this ______ (date) day of ______ (month), _______ (year).” This statement is followed by the notary public’s signature and official stamp or seal.

In California, when an individual (affiant) signs an affidavit, they must swear to or affirm their personal knowledge of the facts stated within the document, and this must be done in the presence of a notary public. The notary public is a licensed individual authorized to perform various legal formalities, including administering oaths and affirmations. Affidavits are utilized in various legal contexts, such as supporting a search warrant, validating a self-proving will, or accompanying certain court filings. A jurat is the portion of the affidavit where the notary public certifies that the affiant has made an oath or affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the facts in the affidavit, that the affiant signed the document in the notary's presence, and that the signing occurred on the date specified in the jurat. The jurat must include the state and county of execution and is concluded with the notary's signature and official stamp or seal. This process ensures the authenticity of the affidavit and the accountability of the affiant for the information provided.