Hawaii Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form & 2026 Wording
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Hawaii Revised Statutes 502-41 and Hawaii Administrative Rules 5-11-8, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Hawaii Attorney General's Notary Public Office before relying on it.
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Fillable Hawaii acknowledgment certificate
Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the statutory Hawaii wording, including the document description and page count Hawaii requires. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool prepares the correct form.
What is the exact Hawaii acknowledgment wording?
Hawaii's individual acknowledgment under HRS 502-41 uses the traditional "free act and deed" language, and the notary then adds the document details required by HAR 5-11-8.
State of Hawaii
______ (City and County, or Judicial Circuit) ss.
On this ______ day of ____________, 20____, before me personally appeared ____________, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that the person executed the same as the person's free act and deed.
Signature of Notary Public
Printed name, seal, commission expiration
Doc. Date: ______ No. of Pages: ______
Doc. Description: ______
Circuit: ______
Why does a Hawaii acknowledgment show the number of pages?
A Hawaii acknowledgment shows the document description, page count, and date because Hawaii Administrative Rules 5-11-8 require the notarial certificate to identify the document in close proximity to the acknowledgment, a requirement no other state imposes. The notary states the document's title or description, its number of pages, and its date, or "undated at time of notarization" if it has none. This extra block ties the notarization to a specific document, and leaving it off is one of the most common Hawaii-specific errors, though it does not by itself invalidate an otherwise proper notarization.
What must a Hawaii acknowledgment include?
A Hawaii acknowledgment must include the venue, date, signer, and the notary's signature, printed name, seal, and commission expiration, plus the document description, page count, and date. The notary determines identity from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, and Hawaii uniquely accepts identification expired up to three years. The seal is a rubber stamp no larger than two inches showing the notary's name, commission number, the words "notary public," and "State of Hawaii," and it must photocopy with the document.
| Element | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Venue | State of Hawaii and the judicial circuit or city and county |
| Date and signer | Date of the act and the person acknowledging |
| Notary | Signature, printed name, seal, commission expiration |
| Document block | Description, number of pages, and document date |
Who commissions notaries in Hawaii?
The Attorney General commissions notaries in Hawaii, which is unique, since most states use the Secretary of State. A notary must pass an exam, keep an official journal of every act for ten years, and file an impression of their seal with the Circuit Court where they reside. The commission runs a set term set by the Attorney General's office, and the notary cannot certify facts they cannot verify or give legal advice. Hawaii allows notarial acts on Sundays and holidays.
When do you use an acknowledgment instead of a jurat in Hawaii?
You use an acknowledgment when the signer confirms they signed as their free act and deed, and a jurat when they swear or affirm the document is true. For an acknowledgment, Hawaii allows the instrument to be pre-signed; the signer appears, is identified, and acknowledges the signature. A jurat requires an oath or affirmation and signing before the notary. Deeds and conveyances bound for the Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court commonly take an acknowledgment, with extra recording details required.
Hawaii acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs Hawaii acknowledgment forms?
- HRS 502-41 sets the certificate of acknowledgment wording, and HAR 5-11-8 adds the document description and page-count requirements.
- Why does Hawaii require the number of pages?
- Hawaii Administrative Rules 5-11-8 require the certificate to identify the document, its page count, and its date in close proximity, a requirement unique to Hawaii.
- Who commissions Hawaii notaries?
- The Attorney General commissions Hawaii notaries, unlike most states that use the Secretary of State, and applicants must pass an exam.
- Does the signer sign in front of the Hawaii notary?
- Not for an acknowledgment. The instrument may be pre-signed, but the signer must appear, be identified, and acknowledge the signature.
- What does a Hawaii notary seal contain?
- A rubber stamp no larger than two inches with the notary's name, commission number, the words "notary public," and "State of Hawaii," able to photocopy.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Hawaii Revised Statutes 502-41, 456-15 and 456-21; Hawaii Administrative Rules 5-11-8; the Hawaii Attorney General Notary Public Manual. Confirm current wording before relying on it.