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Do I need to perform a swearing ceremony for every jurat in a loan package?

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Do I need to administer an oath or affirmation ceremony before every jurat in a loan package? Or is it OK for me to do only one at the beginning of the signing?K.Y., New York

You should have an oath or affirmation ceremony before every jurat in a loan package. In the Notary Public License Law (NPLL), the New York Department of State specifically warns Notaries: "Equally unacceptable to the Secretary of State is slipshod administration of oaths” (2024 NPLL, page 5) and “But it is of far more importance that the affiant, the person making the affidavit, should have personally appeared before the notary and have made oath to the statements contained in the affidavit as required by law” (2024 NPLL, page 19).

Please see our Notary guide to oaths and affirmations for more information.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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4 Comments

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WY notary

09 Apr 2025

I actually called into NNA regarding this today. I had a borrower get fed up with each time I was performing the jurat, so I asked him if he only wanted one final time for the remaining docs and he agreed. NNA advised me to then make a note in my journal that is what happened. I guess it would make sense to state, "This set of documents contains several pages that requires me to have you swear that the contents are true to the best of your knowledge. I'm required to have you swear to each document that contains the wording 'signed and sworn.' I know this might seem silly, but can we proceed?" I would say it's better to NOT give them the option of only one oath unless they specifically ask and then immediately note that in your journal that they waived their right to go under oath for each document that requires 'signed and sworn.' But when they fill out their survey with the title company / signing agency and if there is a question about going under oath and they state they only were sworn in once, that puts the notary in jeopardy of NOT receiving future assignments because they did not following the wording of the notarial act.

Jonathan Kahn

08 Apr 2025

At an earlier time, I did give the oath to the signers at a mortgage loan closing. The team of smart-ass lawyers at the closing table wouldn't put up with it and I was asked to leave!!

Notary806

07 Apr 2025

Did an attorney provide that answer? In a court of law, a person is only required to be sworn in one time at the beginning of the testimony. Not before each question.

National Notary Association

08 Apr 2025

A Notary is required to perform all required steps of a notarization for each notarization.

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