Types of Notarial Acts in Washington State

Seven Acts, One Commission

A Washington notary public commission authorizes a narrow, specific set of administrative acts under RCW 42.45.020. You cannot freelance beyond this list — if someone asks you to do something that does not fall into one of these categories, you must decline. Understanding exactly what each act involves (and what it does not) keeps you on the right side of the line between administrative witness and unauthorized practice of law.

All standard notarial acts carry a statutory maximum fee of $15 per signature, per page, or per person, depending on the act. Remote online notarizations carry a $25 flat cap per transaction under WAC 308-30-220.

Acknowledgment

The most common notarial act. An acknowledgment confirms that a signer has voluntarily executed a document. The signer does not have to sign in your presence — they can bring a pre-signed document and acknowledge to you that the signature is theirs and was made willingly.

Your role: verify the signer's identity (government-issued photo ID or credible witness), confirm they are signing voluntarily and understand the document, complete the acknowledgment certificate, sign, and stamp. You are not certifying that the contents of the document are true — only that the person who signed it is who they say they are and acted of their own free will.

Common uses: real estate deeds, powers of attorney, trust documents, some court filings.

Verification on Oath or Affirmation (Jurat)

A jurat is different from an acknowledgment in one critical way: the signer must sign the document in your physical presence, and they must swear or affirm under oath that the statements in the document are true.

Your role: administer the oath ("Do you swear that the statements in this document are true and correct?"), watch the signer sign, verify identity, complete the jurat certificate, sign, and stamp.

The oath component is what makes a jurat legally binding as sworn testimony. A false statement in a jurat-notarized document can constitute perjury.

Common uses: affidavits, sworn declarations, financial statements, some insurance claims.

Signature Witnessing

You watch someone sign a document and attest that you personally observed the act of signing. Unlike an acknowledgment, there is no certificate language about voluntary execution or understanding of the document. You are simply confirming: "I saw this person sign this document."

This act is less common than acknowledgments or jurats because most documents that require a notary's involvement also require one of those more formal acts.

Copy Certification

You compare a copy of a document against the original and certify that the copy is a full, true, and accurate reproduction. The fee cap is $15 per page certified, not per document — a 10-page certified copy at the maximum rate would be $150.

There are important restrictions. In Washington, you cannot certify copies of vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates). Those must be obtained from the issuing government agency. You also cannot certify a document if you have reason to believe the original is fraudulent or has been altered.

Administering an Oath or Affirmation

A standalone verbal act — no document involved. You administer an oath or affirmation to a person who swears to perform a duty, uphold a standard, or tell the truth. The fee cap is $15 per person.

This act is built into jurats (where the oath accompanies a signed document), but it can also be performed independently. Common independent uses include swearing in witnesses, administering oaths for public office holders, or affirming that someone will perform a specific duty.

Certifying That an Event Has Occurred

You certify, based on your personal knowledge or witness testimony, that a specific event or action took place. This is a narrow act typically used in commercial or governmental contexts where a neutral witness's certification carries legal weight.

Noting a Protest of a Negotiable Instrument

This is the most restricted act in the list. Under RCW 42.45.030(5), a notary may make or note a protest of a negotiable instrument only if they are:

• A licensed Washington attorney, OR
• Acting under the direct authority of a licensed attorney, OR
• Acting under the direct authority of a regulated financial institution

Non-attorney notaries without bank or law firm supervision cannot perform this act. If a signer presents a negotiable instrument (a check, draft, or promissory note) and asks you to note a protest, verify your authority before proceeding.

Choosing the Right Act

The document itself usually dictates which notarial act applies — the certificate language at the bottom says "acknowledgment" or "jurat" or "sworn before me." If a document arrives without certificate language and the signer asks you to choose, you cannot make that selection. Directing them to the document's originator (attorney, court, or agency that issued it) is the correct response. Choosing the certificate type for them crosses into unauthorized practice of law.

For the complete list of permitted acts, fee caps, and prohibited conduct mapped to the specific RCW and WAC citations, the Washington Notary Commission guide puts everything in one reference.

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