Oaths and Affirmations
An oath is a spoken pledge, given by a person appearing before the Notary, that his/her attestation or promise is made under an immediate sense of responsibility to a Supreme Being for the truthfulness of a specific statement or statements, or the faithful performance of a specific duty or function.
An affirmation is a solemn declaration without oath. Whenever law requires an oath, an affirmation may be taken instead. This accommodates persons who have conscientious objections against taking an oath.
Notaries may administer oaths and affirmations to public officials and officers of various organizations. They may also administer oaths and affirmations in order to execute jurats for affidavits/verifications, and to swear in witnesses.
