West Virginia Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & Stamp Size
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects W. Va. Code sections 39-4-15 and 39-4-16 and the older certificate in Chapter 39, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the West Virginia Secretary of State before relying on it.
Fillable West Virginia acknowledgment form
Choose the short form or the older deed form, enter the details, and the certificate updates live with the statutory West Virginia wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity.
What is the exact West Virginia acknowledgment wording?
The short form under 39-4-16 is the modern option; the Chapter 39 certificate below it is the one that still appears on many West Virginia deeds.
Short form · individual capacity
State of West Virginia
County of ______
This record was acknowledged before me on ______ [Date] by ____________ [Name(s) of individual(s)].
Older certificate · conveyances
State of West Virginia, county of ______, to wit:
I, ____________, a notary public of said county, do certify that ____________, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date on the ______ day of ____________, 20____, has (or have) this day acknowledged the same before me, in my said county.
Signature of notarial officer
(Official Seal)
Title of office: ______
My commission expires: ______
What is the "to wit" form on a West Virginia deed?
It is the older statutory certificate, kept in Chapter 39 for conveyances, where the officer certifies that the person whose name is signed to the writing above has acknowledged it before them. "To wit" is an archaic phrase meaning "namely," and it closes the venue line rather than adding any requirement. The form also names the officer's own office in the body, whether recorder, notary public, or clerk of the court, which the modern short form leaves to a separate title line. Neither form is safer; use whichever is already printed on the instrument.
What size must a West Virginia notary stamp be?
No larger than one inch by two and a half inches, and it must have a border. The stamp has to include the words "Official Seal," "Notary Public," and "State of West Virginia," and the Secretary of State's office does not make or issue stamps, so notaries order their own from a vendor. You are responsible for the security of the stamping device and may not let another person use it to perform an act. Unlawfully possessing a notary's official seal, or papers and copies relating to notarial acts, is a misdemeanor in West Virginia.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Stamp size | No larger than 1 by 2.5 inches, with a border |
| Stamp wording | "Official Seal," "Notary Public," "State of West Virginia" |
| Expiration date | In the "my commission expires" blank, or written on the document |
| Commission | Five years, issued by the Secretary of State |
Who can become a West Virginia notary?
An applicant must be at least eighteen, a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States, a West Virginia resident or employed in West Virginia, able to read and write English, and holding a high school diploma or its equivalent. The diploma requirement is unusual, since most states ask only for age and residency. State and local government employees follow the same rules with one addition: the head of the office where they work certifies that the application is made for the purposes of the office and in the public interest. An unsigned or incomplete application is rejected outright.
Where do you write the expiration date in West Virginia?
In the blank that reads "My commission expires ______," which most documents already include. If the document has no such space, the Secretary of State's handbook tells notaries to write the expiration date somewhere on the document rather than leaving it off. That instruction matters because the date is part of what makes the certificate complete, not decoration. If your name changes, notify the Secretary of State, since the name on the stamp and the certificate has to match the commission.
West Virginia acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs West Virginia acknowledgment forms?
- W. Va. Code 39-4-16 sets the short form certificates, completed with the information required by section 39-4-15.
- What is the "to wit" form on a West Virginia deed?
- An older certificate that survives in Chapter 39 for conveyances, where the officer certifies the person whose name is signed to the writing above acknowledged it.
- What size must a West Virginia notary stamp be?
- No larger than one by two and a half inches, with a border, showing "Official Seal," "Notary Public" and "State of West Virginia."
- Do you need a diploma to be a West Virginia notary?
- Yes. Applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, be able to read and write English, and be a resident of or employed in West Virginia.
- Where do you write the expiration date in West Virginia?
- In the blank that says "my commission expires." If the document has no such space, the handbook says to write the expiration date somewhere on the document.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: West Virginia Code sections 39-4-15, 39-4-16, 39-4-20 and Chapter 39 certificate of acknowledgment (West Virginia Legislature); the West Virginia Notary Public Handbook, Office of the Secretary of State. Confirm current wording before relying on it.