What Is a Jurat? Notarial Oath Definition and Form in the Philippines

A jurat is a notarial act in which a person (the affiant) personally appears before a notary public, signs a document in the notary’s presence, and swears or affirms under oath that the contents of the document are true. It is the notarial act used for affidavits, sworn declarations, certifications, and verifications.

What a Jurat Certifies

When a notary public administers a jurat, the notary certifies four things:

1. The affiant personally appeared before the notary
2. The affiant was identified through competent evidence of identity
3. The affiant signed the document in the notary’s presence
4. The affiant swore or affirmed under oath that the contents of the document are true

Unlike an acknowledgment, a jurat involves an oath – which means a false statement in the document can expose the affiant to perjury liability.

When a Jurat Is Required

A jurat is required for documents that contain factual statements made under oath, including:

• Affidavits – of loss, of single status, of support, of consent, of heirship, of guardianship
• Sworn declarations – BIR sworn declaration of gross sales/receipts, sworn statements for SEC filings
• Verifications – attached to court pleadings, election certificates of candidacy, administrative complaints
• Certifications – some compliance and HR certifications
• Statement of Management Responsibility for AFS

For documents that grant authority or transfer rights (rather than state facts under oath), an acknowledgment is used instead. See acknowledgment vs. jurat for the side-by-side.

Standard Form of a Jurat

The 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice prescribe the following form:

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this _____ day of __________ 20___ in the City of __________, affiant exhibiting to me his/her [competent evidence of identity] consisting of __________ issued on __________ at __________.

The notary then signs and seals the certificate and records the act in the notarial book.

Jurat in E-Notarization

Under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC, an electronic notary public can administer a jurat electronically. The affiant verifies identity through multi-factor authentication, takes the oath verbally on a recorded videoconference (for REN) or in person (for IEN), applies an electronic signature, and the notary applies the electronic notarial seal. The session recording becomes part of the audit trail.

Acknowledgment vs. Jurat at a Glance

Common Mistakes

• Using a jurat for a deed of sale or SPA (an acknowledgment is required)
• Using an acknowledgment for an affidavit (a jurat is required)
• Signing the document before appearing – in a jurat, the affiant must sign in the notary’s presence
• Failing to administer the oath verbally

Related Terms

• Acknowledgment
• Affidavit
• Notary Public
• Competent Evidence of Identity
• E-Notarization

NotarialOS is a leading SC-accredited Electronic Notarization Facility – jurats, acknowledgments, and sworn declarations under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC.