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Free Arkansas Notary Acknowledgment Template

An Arkansas notary acknowledgment is the statement a notary completes to show who signed a document, when, and where. Prepare yours with our step-by-step questionnaire, then have an Arkansas notary witness and seal it.

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What Is a Notary Acknowledgment in Arkansas?

An Arkansas notary acknowledgment is the notary’s written account of a signing. It records who appeared, when, and where, and it confirms the signer acknowledged executing the document. The Arkansas Secretary of State calls this the acknowledgment statement, and a notary’s signature and stamp alone don’t make a complete notarization.

Arkansas Requirements for a Notary Acknowledgment

Arkansas notaries are appointed and commissioned by the Secretary of State for 10-year terms. Their authority covers the whole state, but they can’t notarize in another state under an Arkansas seal.

Wording and Language

Under A.C.A. § 21-14-107, a notary must complete a notarial certificate worded in English. The same section also lets a notary refuse to act in some situations. For example, the signer may not seem to understand the transaction or may not appear to be acting freely. Likewise, a notary can refuse when the two can’t communicate in a shared language.

Seal and Ink

Both the notary’s signature and seal must be in blue or black ink. According to the Secretary of State, the seal must also show:

  • The notary’s official name
  • Their county of commission
  • The words “Notary Public” and “Arkansas”
  • The commission expiration date and commission number

However, the seal may not include the Great Seal of Arkansas or an outline of the state. Also, facsimile signatures and seals aren’t allowed on deeds or other documents conveying real estate.

Identification

Arkansas law doesn’t list which IDs are acceptable. Instead, the Secretary of State recommends a government-issued ID showing the signer’s photo and signature.

Fees

Arkansas doesn’t set a fixed notary fee. Notaries don’t have to charge at all. If they do, the fee must be reasonable, and the signer must know and agree to it before the notarial act (A.C.A. § 21-6-309).

Remote Online Notarization

An Arkansas eNotary using an approved remote online notarization provider may notarize for a signer outside the state. However, the notary must be physically located in Arkansas, and the provider keeps the recording for five years.

Which County Goes on an Arkansas Notary Acknowledgment?

The county where you and the notary are physically located at the time of signing. In its handbook, the Secretary of State calls this the venue. So it doesn’t depend on the notary’s county of commission.

For example, a notary commissioned in Pulaski County who meets you in Benton County should list Benton County in the venue line. Meanwhile, their own county still appears on their seal, so two different counties on one Arkansas notary acknowledgment is normal.

Multiple signers raise a related question. When they can’t appear before the same notary at the same time, each person needs a separate acknowledgment certificate with identical wording.

Tip

Arkansas accepts a signature by mark when a signer can’t write their name, as long as at least one disinterested person witnesses it (A.C.A. § 21-14-107). When a signer can’t sign or make a mark at all, a disinterested third party may sign at their direction. In that case, it happens in front of two disinterested witnesses and the notary.

How to Sign an Arkansas Notary Acknowledgment

Follow these steps for a smooth appointment.

  1. Complete the certificate, but wait to fill in the county until you know where you’ll sign.
  2. Find an Arkansas notary and ask about any fee up front.
  3. Bring a government-issued ID with your photo and signature.
  4. Sign in the notary’s presence, since the notary must witness the signature for an acknowledgment statement.
  5. The notary fills in every blank before signing and sealing, which keeps anyone from adding false details later.
  6. Keep the original, and give copies to anyone who needs one.

What to Include in an Arkansas Notary Acknowledgment

The Secretary of State publishes a suggested acknowledgment form. It includes:

  • “State of Arkansas” and the county where the signing happens
  • The date and the notary’s name
  • The name of each signer who personally appeared, known to the notary or satisfactorily proven
  • A statement that the signer executed the document for the purposes it contains
  • The notary’s signature, seal, and commission expiration date

Printing the signer’s name on the certificate isn’t required. Still, the Secretary of State advises it, especially when several people sign one document. Keep this list handy as you customize your Arkansas notary acknowledgment with Document Genius, so the certificate is ready for the notary to complete.