--- title: "Notary glossary: Plain-English Terms | MCC Solutions" description: "48 notary and signing terms in plain English, each with a worked example and links to guides and tools." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/glossary" --- Notary # Notary glossary 48 notary and signing terms explained in plain English, each with a short example and links to the guides that go deeper. ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W ## A - [Acknowledgment](/notary/glossary/acknowledgment): A notarial act where the signer tells the notary that they signed the document willingly. - [Affidavit](/notary/glossary/affidavit): A written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true, usually notarized with a jurat. - [Apostille](/notary/glossary/apostille): A certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. ## B - [Blank spaces in a document](/notary/glossary/blank-spaces): Unfilled lines or fields in a document presented for notarization. ## C - [Capacity](/notary/glossary/capacity): A signer's ability to understand what they are signing and its effect. - [Certified copy](/notary/glossary/certified-copy): A copy that an official custodian certifies as true to the original. - [Certified translation](/notary/glossary/certified-translation): A translation with a signed statement from the translator that it is complete and accurate. - [Closing Disclosure](/notary/glossary/closing-disclosure): A document that lists final loan terms and closing costs for a mortgage. - [Commission](/notary/glossary/commission): The official authority a state gives a person to act as a notary for a set term. - [Conflict of interest](/notary/glossary/conflict-of-interest): A situation where the notary benefits from the transaction or is a party to it, making the notarization improper. - [Credential analysis](/notary/glossary/credential-analysis): Technology that checks whether a government ID is genuine, used in remote online notarization. - [Credible witness](/notary/glossary/credible-witness): A person who knows the signer and vouches for their identity to the notary when the signer lacks acceptable ID, where state law allows it. ## D - [Deed](/notary/glossary/deed): A document that transfers ownership of real property. ## E - [Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance](/notary/glossary/errors-and-omissions-insurance): Insurance that may cover a notary's mistakes, separate from a bond. ## F - [Form I-9](/notary/glossary/form-i-9): The federal form used to verify an employee's identity and work authorization. ## G - [Guardian or conservator](/notary/glossary/guardian-or-conservator): A person a court appoints to make decisions or manage money for someone who cannot. ## H - [Healthcare proxy](/notary/glossary/healthcare-proxy): A document naming someone to make medical decisions if the signer cannot. ## J - [Jurat](/notary/glossary/jurat): A notarial act where the signer swears or affirms that the contents of the document are true and signs in front of the notary. ## K - [Knowledge-based authentication (KBA)](/notary/glossary/knowledge-based-authentication): Identity questions drawn from the signer's records that only the signer should be able to answer. ## L - [Legalization](/notary/glossary/legalization): A multi-step process that authenticates a document for use in a country that does not accept an apostille. - [Lien release](/notary/glossary/lien-release): A document stating that a debt secured by property has been paid and the lien removed. - [Living will](/notary/glossary/living-will): A document stating a person's wishes about medical treatment if they cannot speak for themselves. - [Loan signing agent](/notary/glossary/loan-signing-agent): A notary who specializes in guiding borrowers through signing mortgage and loan documents. ## M - [Mobile notary](/notary/glossary/mobile-notary): A notary who travels to the signer's location rather than the signer visiting an office. ## N - [Notarial certificate](/notary/glossary/notarial-certificate): The part of a document where the notary states what act was performed, when, where and for whom. - [Notarial fee](/notary/glossary/notarial-fee): The amount a notary may charge for a notarial act, set by state law. - [Notary bond](/notary/glossary/notary-bond): A surety bond some states require a notary to hold to protect the public from misconduct. - [Notary journal](/notary/glossary/notary-journal): A bound or electronic record of each notarial act the notary performs. - [Notary scam](/notary/glossary/notary-scam): A fake job or check scheme that targets notaries and signing agents. - [Notary seal or stamp](/notary/glossary/notary-seal): The stamp or embosser a notary places on a certificate that shows their name and commission details. ## O - [Oath and affirmation](/notary/glossary/oath-and-affirmation): A spoken promise to tell the truth. An oath calls on a higher power; an affirmation does not. ## P - [Power of attorney](/notary/glossary/power-of-attorney): A document that lets one person (the agent) act for another (the principal) on stated matters. - [Process server](/notary/glossary/process-server): A person who delivers legal papers to the other party in a case and records how and when. ## Q - [Quitclaim deed](/notary/glossary/quitclaim-deed): A deed that transfers whatever interest the grantor has, without promises about the title. ## R - [Recording](/notary/glossary/recording): Filing a signed document, such as a deed, with the county so it becomes part of the public record. - [Remote online notarization (RON)](/notary/glossary/remote-online-notarization): A notarization done over live audio and video with electronic documents, where state law allows it. - [Right of rescission](/notary/glossary/right-of-rescission): A short period after signing certain refinance or home equity loans when the borrower may cancel. ## S - [Satisfactory evidence of identity](/notary/glossary/satisfactory-evidence-of-identity): Proof, usually a government photo ID, that a notary relies on to confirm who the signer is. - [Scanback](/notary/glossary/scanback): The scanned copy of signed loan documents a signing agent sends back, in addition to the physical return. - [Self-proving affidavit](/notary/glossary/self-proving-affidavit): A sworn statement attached to a will that can simplify proving the will later. - [Signer](/notary/glossary/signer): The person who signs the document and whose signature the notary is notarizing. - [Signing by mark](/notary/glossary/signing-by-mark): When a person who cannot sign their name makes a mark, usually with witnesses, and the notary records it. - [Subscribing witness](/notary/glossary/subscribing-witness): A person who watches someone else sign a document and then signs it as a witness. ## T - [Title company](/notary/glossary/title-company): A company that researches property ownership, issues title insurance and often runs the closing. ## U - [Unauthorized practice of law](/notary/glossary/unauthorized-practice-of-law): Giving legal advice or choosing legal documents for someone when you are not a licensed attorney. ## V - [Venue](/notary/glossary/venue): The state and county where a notarization takes place, written on the certificate. ## W - [Willingness](/notary/glossary/willingness): A signer's voluntary choice to sign, free of pressure. - [Wire fraud (closing)](/notary/glossary/wire-fraud): A scam where criminals impersonate a title company and trick a buyer into wiring closing funds to the wrong account. General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and change; check with your state's commissioning office. [All notary guides](/notary/guides) · [Notary fees by state](/notary/fees-by-state) · [Notary journal template](/notary/notary-journal-template) ## Need a document notarized? Book a notary. [Book a notary](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)