Free Kentucky Notary Acknowledgment Template

A Kentucky notary acknowledgment is the certificate a notarial officer completes to evidence your acknowledgment of a signature. Kentucky’s current rules sit in KRS 423.300 to 423.455, which took effect January 1, 2020.

That law puts most of the requirements on the certificate itself.

Certificate Contents

Under KRS 423.360, the notarial officer must complete the certificate at the same time as the act, then sign and date it. If the officer is a notary public, the signature must match the one on file with the Secretary of State. The certificate must also:

• Identify the jurisdiction where the act takes place
• Contain the officer’s title of office and name
• For a notary public, show the commission number and expiration date

Attachment and Timing

Also, a notary may not sign the certificate until the notarial act has been performed. When the certificate is on paper, it must also be part of the record or securely attached to it.

Fees

Under KRS 423.430, a notary may charge a fee that complies with KRS 64.300 and that has been clearly disclosed to you in advance. So ask about the cost when you book.

Other Acknowledgment Laws

Besides the 2020 provisions, Kentucky’s code keeps an older set of acknowledgment sections, KRS 423.110 to 423.190. They include short forms of acknowledgment in KRS 423.160.

No, it’s optional. Under KRS 423.360, a notary may affix or emboss an official stamp on a paper certificate but doesn’t have to. So a Kentucky notary acknowledgment doesn’t depend on one. What the certificate can’t skip is the notary’s name, commission number, and expiration date.

When a notary does choose to use a stamp or seal, county clerk guidance under KRS 423.370 says it must include:

• The notary’s name and title
• The jurisdiction
• The commission number and expiration date

That same guidance notes that an embossed seal must be inked.

Most appointments follow these steps.

1. Enter the jurisdiction, such as the state and county where you’ll sign.
2. Fill in your name and leave the notary’s section blank.
3. Ask about any fee and confirm it’s disclosed in advance.
4. Appear before the notary and acknowledge your signature.
5. The notary signs and dates the certificate, then adds their title, printed name, commission number, and expiration date.
6. Keep the certificate part of the document or securely attached.

A certificate is sufficient under KRS 423.360 when it meets the content rules above and takes one of several forms. For example, it can follow a short form in KRS 423.365 or another form permitted by Kentucky law. Alternatively, it can follow the law where the act took place, or simply set out the notarial officer’s actions.

At a minimum, then, plan for:

• The jurisdiction of the act
• The date and the officer’s signature
• The officer’s printed name and title of office
• The notary’s commission number and expiration date

Start your Kentucky notary acknowledgment with Document Genius before the appointment.