☑ ACKNOWLEDGMENT CERTIFICATE
An Acknowledgment is a notarial act in which a notary public formally verifies that:
- The signer personally appeared before the notary
- The signer was identified through satisfactory evidence of identity
- The signer acknowledged that the signature on the document is their free and voluntary act
An acknowledgment does not require the signer to swear or affirm the truthfulness of the document’s contents. Instead, it confirms the signer’s identity and intent to sign. This makes acknowledgments appropriate for documents such as deeds, powers of attorney, contracts, and other instruments that require verification of execution rather than an oath.
Under Massachusetts law, the notary’s role is to ensure the signer understands the document, is signing willingly, and is properly identified—not to validate the document’s substance.
Click here to download a Massachusetts Acknowledgement Certificate
