Utah Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & the Purple Ink Rule
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Utah Code sections 46-1-6.5 and 46-1-16 under the Notaries Public Reform Act, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Utah Lieutenant Governor's office before relying on it.
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Fillable Utah acknowledgment certificate
Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the statutory Utah wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity and applies the purple seal.
What is the exact Utah acknowledgment wording?
Utah's acknowledgment under 46-1-6.5 spells the date out in three parts and names the notary inside the certificate itself.
State of Utah §
County of ______
On this ______ (date) day of ____________ (month), in the year ______ (year), before me ____________ (name of notary public), a notary public, personally appeared ____________ (name of document signer), proved on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) (is/are) subscribed to in this document, and acknowledged (he/she/they) executed the same.
___________________________________
Notary Signature
Does a Utah notary seal have to be purple?
Yes. For in-person notarizations, Utah requires the notary's official seal to appear in purple ink under Utah Code 46-1-16, and no other state imposes a colour rule like it. The purple imprint makes an original notarization instantly distinguishable from a photocopy, which is the practical reason behind it. A Utah notary ordering a stamp should specify purple ink at the outset, and replace a pad that has faded toward blue. If you receive a Utah document stamped in black, ask about it before relying on the notarization.
Can a Utah notary stamp a document with no certificate?
No. Section 46-1-16 states that a notary may not use a notarial seal independent of a notarial certificate, so the wording has to be on the document before the seal goes anywhere near it. Utah also prohibits executing a certificate containing a statement the notary knows to be false or materially incomplete, under section 46-1-9. Together those two rules mean a Utah notary never stamps a bare page, never pre-stamps blank certificates, and never leaves blanks in the wording to be filled in later.
What is the difference between an acknowledgment, a jurat, and signature witnessing in Utah?
Utah recognizes three separate acts, and the Lieutenant Governor's study guide names confusing them as one of the most common notary errors. An acknowledgment certifies the signer admitted in the notary's presence to voluntarily signing. A jurat certifies a voluntary signature was made in the notary's presence under an oath or affirmation. Signature witnessing certifies a voluntary signature was made in the notary's presence, with no oath at all. All three require personal appearance and proof of identity.
| Act | Signed in front of you? | Oath? |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Not required | No |
| Jurat | Yes | Yes |
| Signature witnessing | Yes | No |
Who commissions notaries in Utah?
The Lieutenant Governor commissions Utah notaries and issues the Certificate of Authority of Notary Public, which is unusual, since most states use the Secretary of State or the Governor. Every applicant takes a written examination and receives an acknowledgment showing whether they passed. Remote notarization requires a separate remote notary certification from the Lieutenant Governor, and the notary must be physically located in Utah while performing the act. A remote certificate must state that the notarization was performed remotely.
Utah acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs Utah acknowledgment forms?
- Utah Code 46-1-6.5 sets the notarial certificate forms under the Notaries Public Reform Act, including the acknowledgment.
- Does a Utah notary seal have to be purple?
- Yes. For in-person notarizations Utah requires the official seal to appear in purple ink under Utah Code 46-1-16, a rule no other state has.
- Can a Utah notary stamp a document with no certificate?
- No. Utah Code 46-1-16 states a notary may not use a notarial seal independent of a notarial certificate, so the wording must be there first.
- What is signature witnessing in Utah?
- A separate notarial act certifying a voluntary signature was made in the notary's presence, with no oath. It is not the same as an acknowledgment or a jurat.
- Who commissions notaries in Utah?
- The Lieutenant Governor, who issues the Certificate of Authority of Notary Public. Applicants must pass a written examination.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Utah Code sections 46-1-2, 46-1-6.5, 46-1-9 and 46-1-16 (Utah State Legislature); the Utah Notary Public Study Guide and Handbook, Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Confirm current wording before relying on it.