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 Rhode Island, when an individual (affiant) signs a legal document such as an affidavit, they must swear to or affirm their personal knowledge of the facts stated within the document and their truthfulness. This declaration must be made in the presence of a notary public. Notaries are licensed individuals authorized to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents. The process ensures that the person signing the document is doing so willingly and under their own power. Affidavits are utilized in various legal contexts, including but not limited to supporting search warrants, self-proving wills, and certain court filings. A jurat is the portion of the affidavit where the notary certifies that the affiant made an oath or affirmation regarding the truth 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 location where the affidavit was signed and is completed with the notary's signature and official stamp or seal. Rhode Island law requires adherence to these procedures to ensure the integrity and authenticity of affidavits and related legal documents.