What statute governs Missouri acknowledgment forms?

RSMo 486.330 sets the forms of acknowledgment and requires the certificate to be printed in type no smaller than eight-point.

Why does the Missouri form name the document?

The statutory form has a blank for the type of document, so the notary writes what was executed, such as a deed or power of attorney, into the certificate.

Why does Missouri say County and/or City?

St. Louis City is independent of any county, so the venue reads County (and/or City) to cover an act performed in the city itself.

Does the signer sign in front of the Missouri notary?

Not for an acknowledgment. The document may be pre-signed, but the signer must appear before the notary and be identified to acknowledge it.

How long is a Missouri notary commission?

Four years, commissioned by the Secretary of State, with a twenty-five dollar commission fee.

Missouri Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & 8-Point Rule

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Missouri Revised Statutes section 486.330, but the law can change and other forms are permitted. Confirm the current form with the Missouri Secretary of State before relying on it.

Quick answer: A Missouri acknowledgment certifies that a named person appeared and acknowledged executing a document. The form in RSMo 486.330 has two features people miss: it asks the notary to name the type of document inside the certificate, and the statute requires the whole certificate to be printed in type no smaller than eight-point. The venue reads "County (and/or City)" because St. Louis City stands apart from any county. Fill it below.

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Fillable Missouri acknowledgment certificate

Enter the details, including the type of document the statute asks you to name, and the certificate updates live with the RSMo 486.330 wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity.

What is the exact Missouri acknowledgment wording?

Missouri's individual acknowledgment under RSMo 486.330 names the notary, the signer, and the type of document, and the statute requires it in type no smaller than eight-point.

State of Missouri
County (and/or City) of ______

On this ______ day of ____________ in the year 20____ before me, ____________ (name of notary), a Notary Public in and for said state, personally appeared ____________ (name of individual), known to me to be the person who executed the within ____________ (type of document), and acknowledged to me that (he/she) executed the same for the purposes therein stated.

___________________________________
(official signature and official seal of notary)

Why does the Missouri form name the type of document?

The Missouri form names the document because RSMo 486.330 places a blank for it, "the within ______ (type of document)," so the certificate records what was executed. The notary writes in the kind of instrument, a deed, a power of attorney, a title, rather than leaving it generic. Most states' short forms never mention the document at all, so this catches notaries who copy a modern form and skip the blank. Naming it ties the acknowledgment to the specific instrument in front of you, which is useful if the notarization is ever questioned.

What is the eight-point type rule for Missouri acknowledgments?

RSMo 486.330 requires certificates of acknowledgment to be printed in type no smaller than eight-point, a size rule few other states put in statute. It exists so a recorder and any later reader can actually read the certificate, and it means a certificate shrunk to fit a crowded page can be non-compliant even if the words are correct. When you build or print a certificate, keep the type at eight-point or larger. A certificate that meets the wording but not the size still risks a question at recording.

Why does a Missouri acknowledgment say "County (and/or City)"?

It says "County (and/or City)" because St. Louis City is an independent city that is not part of any county, so an act performed there names the city rather than a county. Missouri residents applying as notaries in the city indicate "St. Louis City" rather than a county for the same reason. Writing "St. Louis County" for an act done in the city, or the reverse, names the wrong jurisdiction, since the city and the county are separate. Elsewhere in Missouri the venue simply names the county where the act took place.

Who commissions notaries in Missouri?

The Secretary of State commissions Missouri notaries for a four-year term, and the application carries a twenty-five dollar fee. A notary may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, and certify copies, and cannot notarize their own signature. The official seal identifies the notary and the county of commission, and Missouri notaries indicate their county of residence, or St. Louis City, on the application. A notary who is not an attorney should not advise which certificate a document needs.

Missouri acknowledgment: frequently asked questions

What statute governs Missouri acknowledgment forms?: RSMo 486.330 sets the forms of acknowledgment and requires the certificate to be printed in type no smaller than eight-point.
Why does the Missouri form name the document?: The statutory form has a blank for the type of document, so the notary writes what was executed, such as a deed or power of attorney, into the certificate.
Why does Missouri say "County (and/or City)"?: St. Louis City is independent of any county, so the venue reads "County (and/or City)" to cover an act performed in the city itself.
Does the signer sign in front of the Missouri notary?: Not for an acknowledgment. The document may be pre-signed, but the signer must appear before the notary and be identified to acknowledge it.
How long is a Missouri notary commission?: Four years, commissioned by the Secretary of State, with a twenty-five dollar commission fee.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Missouri Revised Statutes section 486.330 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes); the Missouri Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook. Confirm current wording before relying on it.