California Notary Public ExamJuratsMedium
A Notary Public is completing a jurat certificate for an affidavit. The pre-printed certificate wording includes, 'Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____ day of _____, 20___.' The Notary administers the oath and completes the certificate. Which of the following is an INCORRECT way to complete the date portion of the certificate?
- ASubscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of January, 2024.
- BSubscribed and sworn to before me this 01/15/2024.
- CSubscribed and sworn to before me this January 15, 2024.
- DSubscribed and sworn to before me this Fifteenth day of January, 2024.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 01/15/2024.
California Notary law requires the date on the jurat certificate to be written out in full or using the standard 'day of month, year' format, not as a numerical date (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY). Option C uses a numerical date format that is not recommended and can be ambiguous or lead to errors.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is a correct and common way to fill in the date on a jurat certificate.
- C. This is a correct and acceptable way to fill in the date on a jurat certificate.
- D. This is a correct and acceptable way to write out the date on a jurat certificate.
Jurat Certificate - Date Formatting
The date on a jurat certificate should be written in a clear, unambiguous format, typically including the day, month (spelled out or abbreviated), and full year. Numerical-only dates (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY) are generally discouraged due to potential for misinterpretation.
- Date must be clearly stated.
- Month should be spelled out or clearly abbreviated.
- Full year must be included.
- Numerical-only dates (e.g., 01/15/2024) are not recommended.
Memory trick: Spell out the month, for clarity's sake, no number-date mistake.