Before Your Appointment

Notarial Certificates Explained

At SheSecures, we believe you should feel confident about what you’re signing. North Carolina law requires different notarial certificates depending on the situation. This page explains each one in simple terms, so you know what to expect at your appointment.

Why the Notarial Certificate Matters

A notarial certificate is the official wording that explains what the notary verified during your signing. Using the correct certificate helps prevent delays, rejections, and legal issues later.

If your document includes wording from another state, a North Carolina–compliant certificate may be attached to meet legal requirements.

Affidavit

Best for: Sworn written statements of facts
What it means: You are swearing (or affirming) that the information is true.

What you’ll do at your appointment:

- Sign in front of the notary
- Take an oath or affirmation
- Confirm your statement is truthful

Affidavit for Legal Proceedings

Best for: Court-related affidavits and legal filings
What it means: Courts often require exact wording and formatting.

Important note:
This certificate must be completed exactly as written to avoid rejection.

Oath or Affirmation (NC 10B-43)

Best for: sworn statements, depositions, testimony situations
What it means: The focus is on your sworn promise of truthfulness.

What you’ll do at your appointment:

Verbally swear or affirm
Sign if required by the document
Answer the notary’s identity and willingness questions

Verification of Subscribing Witness (NC 10B-42)

Best for: when the original signer can’t appear, but a witness who saw the signing can
What it means: The witness swears they personally observed the signer sign.

What you’ll do at your appointment:

The witness appears with valid ID
The witness takes an oath/affirmation
The notary certifies the witness testimony

Verification of Non-Subscribing Witness (NC 10B-42.1)

Best for: rare situations involving assisted signing/unique witness requirements
What it means: The witness did not see the original signing but is providing sworn verification under specific circumstances.

Important note:
This is a specialized certificate and must meet strict NC requirements.

Acknowledgment by Attorney-in-Fact

Best for: signing on someone else’s behalf using Power of Attorney
What it means: The signer is acting as a legal representative (agent).

What you’ll do at your appointment:

Agent appears with valid ID
Agent confirms their authority to sign
Notary notarizes the agent’s signature in that role

Acknowledgment for Short Form Power of Attorney

Best for: North Carolina statutory short form POA documents
What it means: The certificate wording is designed specifically for this POA format.

Important note:
Banks and institutions often require this certificate exactly.

Certification of Will

Best for: self-proving wills (usually with witnesses)
What it means: The notary notarizes the self-proving affidavit, not the will itself.

What you’ll do at your appointment:

Testator and witnesses appear together (if required)
Oaths/affirmations are administered
Notary completes the proper certificate

Not Sure Which One You Need?

Don’t worry. We’ll guide you. Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Just confirming your signature? → Acknowledgment
Swearing the contents are true? → Affidavit / Oath
Signing for someone else (POA)? → Attorney-in-Fact
Witness signing involved? → Witness Verification
Court or will documents? → Specialized wording applies

Tip: If your document has pre-filled notary wording from another state, we may need to attach a North Carolina-compliant certificate.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
Your document (unsigned unless instructed otherwise)
Any supporting pages related to POA or witness signing (if applicable)

Ready to get it notarized?

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