Washington D.C. Notary Acknowledgement Form

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Updated March 20, 2024

A Washington D.C. notary acknowledgment form verifies that the signatures included on a document are valid. Notarization, in general, is used for important documents, but as in most states, Washington D.C. allows for at multiple kinds of notarization. The two most common are jurat and acknowledgment. While a jurat indicates that the person signing has “affirmed” that they are who they say they are, an acknowledgment means that the notary has verified the signer’s identity. Acknowledgment is typically used for documents that will be publicly recorded, such as a mortgage or deed. Only licensed notaries may perform this service, and it must contain specific language along the lines of “This record was acknowledged before me.”

Laws – Title 1, Chapter 12A (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts)

Notary Public Handbook – A guide to notarization from the district’s Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications

How to Notarize in Washington D.C. (4 steps)

Find Notary
Complete Paperwork
Show ID
Affix Seal

1. Find Notary

Determine what sort of notary is required. In Washington D.C., there are four types of notary offices: residential, business, D.C. government, and federal government. The selection will depend on the document being signed and the purpose of notarization. Some notaries are licensed to perform multiple types.

2. Prepare Paperwork

Search for a notary using this map of notaries in the District. Once a notary is chosen, contact the notary to determine with the notary is willing and able to notarize the document; with some exceptions, notaries are not obligated to accept all requests. If so, go there with the document to be notarized and photo identification. (The district temporarily authorized notarization without the presence of the signing party because of the coronavirus pandemic, but this ended on Nov. 5, 2021.)

3. Show ID

The notary will require proof of identity identity Most notaries charge a fee for their service, but the fees are limited by statute. It’s customary to sign the paper in the presence of the notary, though with acknowledgments, the document may be signed beforehand if the notary verifies that the signature matches. Additionally, if an infirmity prevents the named party from signing, the party may direct someone else to sign the document. If this is done, the notary will indicate as such.

4. Affix Seal

The notary will fill out and affix a seal or stamp to the acknowledgment form.

Verify a Notary in Washington D.C. (2 steps)

Step 1

Navigate to this web page washington dc search page for notary public

Step 2

Click on the Open Data DC catalog, then click “View Data Table.” From here, it’s possible to search among licensed notaries by name, address, and more. It will also list each notary’s date of commission, and when the commission expires. notary public search results