New Mexico Jurat Certificate: Why the Word Jurat Left the Statute
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. Requirements reflect the New Mexico Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, Chapter 14, Article 14A, in force since January 1, 2022, but the law can change. Confirm current requirements with the New Mexico Secretary of State before relying on this.
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Fillable New Mexico jurat certificate
Choose whether you are a notary public or one of New Mexico's automatic notarial officers. The identification line at the foot of the certificate changes accordingly, which is the part most templates get wrong.
Does New Mexico still use the word "jurat"?
Not in the statute, and that matters when you are reading older forms. The previous section, 14-12A-7, expressly empowered a notary to perform acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, jurats, and copy certifications, but it was repealed effective January 1, 2022. The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts that replaced it calls the same act a verification on oath or affirmation. A New Mexico certificate citing the repealed section is pointing at a statute that no longer exists, so redraft rather than reuse. The act itself has not changed: the signer still appears, signs in front of the officer, and swears the contents are true.
What is the New Mexico jurat wording?
The short form is one sentence, but the line beneath it is what makes it a New Mexico certificate.
State of New Mexico
[County] of ______
Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on ____________ (date) by ____________ (name(s) of individual(s)).
(Signature of notarial officer)
(Stamp)
[Notary public commission number and date of commission expiration: ______]
What is the identification line on a New Mexico certificate?
A trailing entry where the officer records data identifying themselves, and for a notary public it holds the commission number and the date the commission expires. New Mexico writes it into the short form because several kinds of officer can notarize, and the statute lists alternatives: a New Mexico state bar identification number, a judicial district or area, a county served, or a notary public commission number with the expiration date. Each officer completes the part that applies to them. A notary who leaves the line empty has an incomplete certificate even if everything above it is correct.
| Officer | What goes in the identification line |
|---|---|
| Notary public | Commission number and expiration date |
| Attorney acting as a notarial officer | New Mexico state bar identification number |
| Judge or court clerk | Judicial district or area |
| County clerk or deputy | County served |
Who else can notarize in New Mexico?
New Mexico recognizes automatic notarial officers, meaning certain officials perform notarial acts by virtue of the office they hold rather than through a separate commission. Judges, court clerks, deputy court clerks, county clerks, deputy county clerks, and staff of the Secretary of State's office all fall into that group. They still complete the education course, pass the examination, and register an official stamp, but they identify themselves by office rather than by a notary commission number. That is precisely why the short form lists a judicial district and a county served as alternatives.
What are the New Mexico stamp rules?
Specific, and worth checking before you order. The official stamp must show "State of New Mexico," it may not contain a signature line, and it may not be a round ink stamp. The name on the stamp has to match the name on the commission exactly, so a notary who changes their name updates the commission before ordering a replacement. After approval you have forty-five days to register the stamp with the Secretary of State. New Mexico commissions run four years, and applicants complete an education course, pass an examination, and file a ten thousand dollar surety bond.
When must a New Mexico notary refuse?
Whenever the principal is not physically present at the time of the notarization, or is not personally known to the officer and cannot be identified through satisfactory evidence of identity. Those two prohibitions carried through New Mexico's rewrite and remain the core of the office. For a verification they bite twice over, because the signer must both appear and sign the document in front of you before taking the oath. A document that arrives already signed cannot receive this certificate; the signer signs again in your presence or the act does not happen.
New Mexico jurat: frequently asked questions
- Does New Mexico still use the word "jurat"?
- Not in the statute. The old section listing jurats was repealed effective January 1, 2022, and the current law calls the same act a verification on oath or affirmation.
- What is the New Mexico jurat wording?
- "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on" the date "by" the named individual, followed by the identification line that section 14-14A-15 requires.
- What is the identification line on a New Mexico certificate?
- A trailing entry where a notary records the commission number and expiration date, while other officers record a bar number, judicial district or county served.
- Who else can notarize in New Mexico?
- Automatic notarial officers, including judges, court clerks, deputy court clerks, county clerks, deputy county clerks and staff of the Secretary of State's office.
- What are the New Mexico stamp rules?
- The stamp must show "State of New Mexico," cannot contain a signature line, cannot be a round ink stamp, and must be registered within 45 days of approval.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: New Mexico Statutes Chapter 14, Article 14A, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, including sections 14-14A-15 and 14-14A-20; the repealed Section 14-12A-7; the New Mexico Notarial Officer Handbook, Office of the Secretary of State. Confirm current requirements before relying on this.