North Carolina Jurat Certificate: Two Valid Forms and When the Name Can Be Left Out
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. Requirements reflect Chapter 10B of the North Carolina General Statutes, the Notary Public Act, but the law can change. Confirm current requirements with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State before relying on this.
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Fillable North Carolina jurat certificate
Pick either statutory form, choose whether the signer swore or affirmed, and the certificate updates live. The name toggle shows what the statute allows when the principal's name already appears near the jurat.
What is the North Carolina jurat wording?
Both forms below are sufficient under G.S. 10B-43 when properly completed, and the statute says plainly that authorizing them does not preclude the use of other forms.
First form
North Carolina, ______ County
Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this day by ____________ (name of principal).
Second form
North Carolina, ______ County
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by ____________ (name of principal).
___________________________________
Official Signature of Notary
____________, Notary Public
(Official Seal)
My commission expires: ______
Can the signer's name be left out of a North Carolina jurat?
Yes, in defined circumstances, and this is where North Carolina departs from almost every other state. The name of the principal may be omitted from the jurat if the name of the principal is located near the jurat and the principal who appeared before the notary is clear from the record itself. Elsewhere a blank name line is a defect; here it can be cured by the document's own layout. The safe practice is still to write the name, because a recorder or a receiving agency in another state will not know the North Carolina rule. Treat the allowance as a rescue for pre-printed forms rather than a shortcut.
Can you write "affirmed" instead of "sworn to"?
Yes. The statute expressly permits the words "affirmed" or "sworn to or affirmed" to be substituted for "sworn to" in either form. That flexibility matters because an affirmation carries the same legal weight as an oath, and a signer who declines to swear should not end up with a certificate that says they did. Ask which the person prefers before you administer anything, then complete the certificate to match. North Carolina defines a jurat simply as a notary's certificate evidencing the administration of an oath or affirmation, which is why the vocabulary is interchangeable.
| Provision | What it allows |
|---|---|
| 10B-43(a) | Either of two forms is sufficient, and other forms are not precluded |
| 10B-43(c) | Printed name unnecessary if legible near the signature or from the seal |
| 10B-43(d)(1) | Principal's name may be omitted when it appears near the jurat |
| 10B-43(d)(2) | "Affirmed" or "sworn to or affirmed" may replace "sworn to" |
Must a North Carolina notary print their name on a jurat?
Not always. The printed or typed name shown in the statutory form is not required if the legible appearance of the notary's name can be ascertained from the typed or printed name near the signature, from elsewhere in the notarial certificate, or from the seal, provided the name there is legible. In practice most North Carolina notaries print it anyway, because seals smudge and an unreadable name invites questions at the register of deeds. The seal and the commission expiration date remain expected regardless.
How much can a North Carolina notary charge for a jurat?
Five dollars per principal signature, which is the maximum for acknowledgments, jurats, verifications, and proofs alike. Oaths or affirmations without a signature are also capped at five dollars per person, with one carve-out worth knowing: an oath or affirmation administered to a credible witness who is vouching for the identity of a principal or subscribing witness carries no fee. North Carolina also requires notaries who charge for their services to conspicuously display their fees at their place of business, or present them to each principal when working elsewhere.
Does emergency video notarization cover a jurat?
Yes for oaths and affirmations, no for verifications or proofs. North Carolina defines emergency video notarization as an acknowledgment, affirmation, or oath notarization completed in compliance with G.S. 10B-25, and the definition expressly excludes a verification or proof. That distinction matters when a document names a subscribing witness rather than the signer, since that route is unavailable by video. For an ordinary sworn affidavit, the oath notarization is within scope, subject to the conditions the section imposes.
North Carolina jurat: frequently asked questions
- What is the North Carolina jurat wording?
- G.S. 10B-43 gives two sufficient forms: "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this day by" the principal, or "Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by" the principal.
- Can the signer's name be left out of a North Carolina jurat?
- Yes, if the name is located near the jurat and the principal who appeared before the notary is clear from the record itself. Most states do not allow this.
- Can you write "affirmed" instead of "sworn to"?
- Yes. The statute allows "affirmed" or "sworn to or affirmed" to be substituted for "sworn to," so the certificate matches what the signer actually did.
- Must a North Carolina notary print their name on a jurat?
- Not always. The printed name is unnecessary if it can be read near the signature, elsewhere in the certificate, or from the seal.
- How much can a North Carolina notary charge for a jurat?
- Up to five dollars per principal signature. An oath administered to a credible witness vouching for a principal's identity carries no fee.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 10B, sections 10B-3, 10B-25, 10B-31 and 10B-43 (North Carolina General Assembly); the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State notary resources. Confirm current requirements before relying on this.