Washington Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & Residence Line

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects chapter 42.45 RCW and chapter 64.08 RCW, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Washington Department of Licensing before relying on it.

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Fillable Washington acknowledgment certificate

Choose in person or remote, enter the details, and the certificate updates live with the statutory Washington wording, including the residence line. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document.

What is the exact Washington acknowledgment wording?

Washington's individual short form under RCW 42.45.140 uses "record," and chapter 64.08 RCW adds the residence line that follows the notary's signature.

Why does a Washington certificate say "residing at"?

Because chapter 64.08 RCW provides that when an acknowledgment is taken before a Washington notary, the signature shall be followed by substantially the words "Notary Public in and for the state of Washington, residing at," giving the place of residence. Most states abandoned residence lines decades ago, so out-of-state signers see it as an oddity. The entry names a city or town, not a street address, and it appears alongside the official stamp rather than inside it. Recording offices in Washington look for it on deeds, so include it rather than trimming the block.

Can a Washington notary be called a "notario público"?

No. A Washington notary who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the state, or a Washington-licensed limited license legal technician acting within their scope, may not use the terms "notario" or "notario publico." The ban exists because in much of Latin America a notario público is a highly trained lawyer with broad powers, so the label misleads Spanish-speaking clients into thinking a US notary can give legal advice. A Washington notary cannot. The rule is consumer protection, and using the term is professional misconduct rather than a marketing choice.

Can a Washington notary tell you which certificate to use?

No. A notary who is not a Washington attorney or a limited license legal technician may not assist another person in selecting the appropriate certificate required by RCW 42.45.130. That pairs directly with the notario rule: choosing between an acknowledgment and a jurat is a legal judgment, so the choice belongs to the signer or the agency requesting the document. A notary can explain what each act does in general terms and hand over the statutory forms. If the signer genuinely does not know, they need the receiving party or a lawyer, not the notary.

How does a Washington remote acknowledgment differ?

The certificate has to indicate that the notarial act was performed using communication technology, and the administrative rules print wording for it: "This record was acknowledged before me by means of communication technology on (date) by (name)." A certificate also satisfies the rule if it carries a statement substantially saying the notarial act involved the use of communication technology. Either way, a remote Washington acknowledgment that reads exactly like an in-person one is incomplete. A notarial officer may never sign a certificate, remote or not, until the act has actually been performed.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: RCW 42.45.010, 42.45.130, 42.45.140 and 42.45.280, chapter 64.08 RCW, and WAC 308-30-320 (Washington State Legislature). Confirm current wording before relying on it.