Indiana Jurat Certificate Form: Wording, Seal Change and Who Can Notarize
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. Requirements reflect Indiana Code title 33, article 42, but the law can change. Confirm current requirements with the Indiana Secretary of State before relying on this.
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Fillable Indiana jurat certificate
Enter the county, the date, and the signer, and the certificate updates live with the Indiana wording, including the commission number line Indiana certificates carry. Copy or print it and attach it to the unsigned affidavit.
What is the Indiana jurat wording?
Indiana uses the modern uniform phrasing, with the notary's identifying details beneath the signature.
State of Indiana
County of ______
Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on ____________ (date) by ____________ (name of individual making statement).
Signature of notary public
____________ (printed name), Notary Public
County of residence: ______
Commission number: ______
My commission expires: ______
Does an Indiana notary seal still need the word "Seal"?
No, not since July 1, 2024. House Bill 1032 amended the Indiana notary code so that seals no longer need to contain the word "Seal," which quietly made a lot of existing guidance out of date. Older stamps that still carry the word remain perfectly usable; the change removed a requirement rather than adding one. If you are ordering a new stamp, you no longer need to squeeze the word in. Anyone reading an older Indiana handbook should check the date before treating a seal requirement as current.
Who can perform a notarial act in Indiana?
More people than in almost any other state. Alongside notaries public, Indiana authorizes official court reporters, judges, the Secretary of State, court clerks, mayors, clerk-treasurers, township trustees, election officers, county auditors, county recorders, and legislators to perform notarial acts. Most of those officials act within the scope of their office rather than as general-purpose notaries, but a certificate signed by one of them is valid. If you receive an Indiana document signed by a township trustee rather than a notary, that is not an error.
| Element | What Indiana expects |
|---|---|
| Venue | State of Indiana and the county |
| Wording | "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me" |
| Notary details | Printed name, county of residence, commission number, expiration |
| Seal | Required, but the word "Seal" is no longer needed on it |
| Term | Eight years, from the Secretary of State |
How long is an Indiana notary commission?
Eight years, which puts Indiana among the longest terms in the country and well beyond the four or five years most states use. The trade-off is a heavier entry process: an applicant needs a twenty-five thousand dollar surety bond, a signature sample, an Indiana State Police limited criminal history record, and, if they live out of state but work primarily in Indiana, an employer consent form. Indiana also requires a notary education course and an examination before commissioning, plus continuing education to keep the commission in good standing.
What does an Indiana notary's signature establish?
More than in most states. The signature of a notarial officer is prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and that the individual holds the designated title. For a notary public or an official court reporter, the signature conclusively establishes the authority of that officer to perform the notarial act, meaning it cannot be challenged on that ground alone. That protection is why the identifying details on an Indiana certificate matter: the printed name, county of residence, commission number, and expiration date are what tie the signature to a verifiable commission.
What does the notary actually check on a jurat?
Identity, appearance, the signature, and the oath. Indiana provides that a notarial officer who attests or witnesses a signature shall determine that the signature on the record is the signature of the individual, which for a jurat means watching it happen. Bring the affidavit unsigned. The notary confirms who you are, administers the oath or affirmation aloud, watches you sign, and only then completes the certificate. A document signed before the appointment cannot take a jurat.
Indiana jurat: frequently asked questions
- What is the Indiana jurat wording?
- "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on" the date "by" the named individual, with the notary's signature, seal, commission number and expiration date.
- Does an Indiana notary seal still need the word "Seal"?
- No. After July 1, 2024 Indiana notary seals no longer need to contain the word "Seal," following House Bill 1032 amending the notary code.
- Who can perform a notarial act in Indiana?
- Notaries public plus a long list of officials, including court reporters, judges, court clerks, mayors, township trustees, county auditors, county recorders and legislators.
- How long is an Indiana notary commission?
- Eight years, among the longest terms in the country, issued by the Secretary of State and subject to a continuing education requirement.
- What does an Indiana notary's signature establish?
- It is prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and the person holds the title, and for a notary public it conclusively establishes authority to perform the act.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Indiana Code sections 33-42-0.5-13, 33-42-0.5-19, 33-42-0.5-20, 33-42-9-2 and 33-42-9-7; House Bill 1032 (2024); Indiana Secretary of State notary public guidance. Confirm current requirements before relying on this.