Notary Handbook - the Montana Secretary of State Website

Jurat. “Jurat” is short for the Latin “Juratum est”, meaning “It has been sworn.” It is the notarial act that certifies the notary as
having witnessed the signing of a document and administered an oath or affirmation, in which the signer declares the
document to be truthful and accurate. See page 38 for further clarification.
Medallion Signature Guarantee. A verification/guarantee of signatures on stocks and bond transactions that can only be done
by a security broker or dealer participating in a medallion program. A Medallion Signature Guarantee cannot be performed by
a Montana Notary Public unless he/she has also been approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc.
Negligence. Failure to use reasonable care that would be expected of any other person in a similar situation.
Notarial Acts. The official duties and responsibilities performed by a notary public whose function is to administer oaths; to
take acknowledgments; to witness or attest signatures; to certify or attest copies; and to note a protest of a negotiable
instrument, by affixing a complete notarial certificate including the notary’s official signature and seal, in order to give them
credit and authenticity. See Chapter 2, pages 13 – 14 for more information.
Notarial Block/Certificate. The written acts of a notary. The statutory requirements for a proper notarial block in Montana
are: 1. The venue (state and county where the notarial act is being performed.) 2. The date the notarization took place.
3. The declaration describing the type of notarial act performed. 4. The notary’s original/official signature. 5. The notary’s
official name clearly typed, stamped, or printed (under the signature and in addition to the notary’s name in the seal).
6. The notary’s title, “Notary Public for the State of Montana”. 7. Residing at (the city or town where the notary lives).
8. Commission expiration date (Month / Day / Four-digit Year). 9. The notary’s official seal. See Chapter 6 for more
information.
Notary Public. A public ministerial officer, also an agent of the state, commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve the
public as an impartial party to a document, to deter fraud, with duties specified by law.
Notarial Seal. The official seal of the notary. Effective October 1, 2009, all new and renewing notaries are required to use a
combination ink seal/stamp unit. See page 9 for details.
Oath. A statement of truth, either written or verbal, given under penalty of perjury.
Perjury. Making a false statement under oath; generally punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
Reasonable Care. The use of ordinary prudence and intelligence exercised in similar circumstances. Failure to use reasonable
care is negligence.
Signature. A name made manually or by means of a device or machine executed or adopted by a person with present
intention to authenticate a writing.
Signature by Mark. The mark of a person who cannot write which has been witnessed by another person who writes the
person’s name near the mark and also signs his/her own name on the document.
Signature Guarantee. See Medallion Signature Guarantee above.
Subscribe. To sign.
Surety Bond. A surety bond is a legal instrument that reflects an agreement between three parties. In the case of a notary
bond, those parties are the state, the surety company who underwrites the bond, and the notary, individually. A surety bond
protects the public from damages caused by the notary; it does not protect the notary.
Swear. To take an oath.
Testify. To make a serious declaration to substantiate a fact; bear witness or give evidence, especially under oath in court.
Venue. The location (state and county) where a notarization was performed. This is a requirement in a notarial block in the
state of Montana.
Witness. A person called upon to observe an event, a transaction, signing, etc., in order to testify concerning it if it is later held
in question or challenged.
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