Arkansas Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form & 2026 Wording
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Arkansas Code A.C.A. 16-47-207, but the law can change and other forms are permitted. Confirm the current form with the Arkansas Secretary of State before relying on it.
Open the free fillable certificate ↓
Fillable Arkansas acknowledgment certificate
Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the statutory Arkansas wording. Copy the text or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool just prepares the correct form.
What is the exact Arkansas acknowledgment wording?
Arkansas uses the traditional long-form acknowledgment under A.C.A. 16-47-207, which is wordier than the modern short forms other states adopted. The individual certificate reads as follows.
State of Arkansas
County of ______
On this the ______ day of ____________, 20____, before me, ____________, the undersigned officer, personally appeared ____________, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that he/she executed the same for the purposes therein contained.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal.
___________________________________
Signature of notarial officer
Title
What must an Arkansas acknowledgment include?
An Arkansas acknowledgment must include the state and county venue, the date, the notary's name, the signer's name, and the notary's signature, title, and seal. The notary must have confirmed identity through personal knowledge or satisfactory proof before completing the certificate. Arkansas requires the certificate be completed by the notary before signing and sealing, so no blanks are left for others to fill in later. The seal must photocopy in blue or black ink.
| Element | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Venue | State of Arkansas and the county |
| Date | The day, month, and year of the acknowledgment |
| Officer and signer | Notary's name and the person who personally appeared |
| Notary | Signature, title, and photocopy-ready seal |
Who commissions notaries in Arkansas?
The Secretary of State commissions notaries in Arkansas for an unusually long ten-year term, the longest in the country. After the Secretary approves the application, the notary files a $7,500 bond and takes the oath with the recorder of deeds or circuit clerk in their county, then returns a completed certificate to the Secretary of State to enter good standing and receive a commission number. The seal cannot display the Great Seal of Arkansas or an outline of the state, which trips up new notaries ordering stamps.
When do you use an acknowledgment instead of a jurat in Arkansas?
You use an acknowledgment when the signer confirms they signed willingly, and a jurat when they swear the contents are true. For an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear and be identified, though Arkansas allows the document to have been signed beforehand. A jurat requires the signer to sign before the notary and take an oath. Deeds and property instruments, which Arkansas notaries frequently handle for the recorder of deeds, typically call for an acknowledgment.
What common mistakes void an Arkansas acknowledgment?
The frequent mistakes are leaving the county blank, letting the signer complete the certificate later, and putting the Arkansas state seal or outline on the stamp. Arkansas law is explicit that the notary completes the certificate before signing and sealing, to stop anyone inserting false material afterward. Using white-out to fix an error is discouraged; corrections should be lined through in ink and initialed. Notarizing your own signature is prohibited, since a notary must be an unbiased witness.
Arkansas acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs Arkansas acknowledgment forms?
- A.C.A. 16-47-207 sets the traditional statutory forms. A certificate substantially in that form is sufficient, and other compliant forms are also permitted.
- How long is an Arkansas notary commission?
- Ten years, the longest term of any state. Renewal requires a new application and fee submitted before the commission expires.
- Does the signer sign in front of the Arkansas notary?
- Not necessarily for an acknowledgment. The signer must personally appear and be identified, but the document may have been signed beforehand.
- Can an Arkansas notary put the state seal on their stamp?
- No. Arkansas law prohibits the Great Seal of Arkansas or an outline of the state on a notary seal, which must photocopy in blue or black ink.
- Who swears in an Arkansas notary?
- The recorder of deeds or circuit clerk in the notary's county administers the oath and files the bond, after the Secretary of State approves the application.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Arkansas Code A.C.A. 16-47-207 and 21-14-101; the Arkansas Secretary of State Notary Public and eNotary Handbook. Confirm current wording before relying on it.