# 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](/glossary/affidavit/), sworn declarations, certifications, and verifications.

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## 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](/glossary/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](/glossary/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](/glossary/affidavit/) -- 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](/glossary/acknowledgment/) is used instead. See [acknowledgment vs. jurat](/compare/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](/glossary/notarial-book/).

## Jurat in E-Notarization

Under [A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC](/glossary/am-no-24-10-14-sc/), an [electronic notary public](/glossary/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](/glossary/remote-electronic-notarization/)) or in person (for [IEN](/glossary/in-person-electronic-notarization/)), applies an [electronic signature](/glossary/electronic-signature/), and the notary applies the [electronic notarial seal](/glossary/electronic-notarial-seal/). The session recording becomes part of the [audit trail](/glossary/document-audit-trail/).

## Acknowledgment vs. Jurat at a Glance

| Aspect | Acknowledgment | Jurat |
|--------|----------------|-------|
| What is certified | Voluntary signing | Truth of contents under oath |
| Oath required | No | Yes |
| Who signs in front of notary | Not required (signed earlier) | Required (signed in notary's presence) |
| Typical documents | Deeds, SPAs, contracts | Affidavits, sworn declarations |
| Perjury exposure | No | Yes |

## 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](/glossary/acknowledgment/)
- [Affidavit](/glossary/affidavit/)
- [Notary Public](/glossary/notary-public/)
- [Competent Evidence of Identity](/glossary/competent-evidence-of-identity/)
- [E-Notarization](/glossary/e-notarization/)

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[NotarialOS](https://notarialos.com) is a leading SC-accredited Electronic Notarization Facility -- jurats, acknowledgments, and sworn declarations under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC.