• Acknowledgment: A formal declaration by a signer that they signed a document of their own free will. The notary certifies the signer's identity and that they appeared personally.

• Affiant: The person who makes and signs an affidavit under oath or affirmation.

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts made voluntarily and sworn to or affirmed before a notary.

• Affirmation: A solemn promise to tell the truth that has the same legal effect as an oath but does not invoke a deity or religious reference.

• Apostille: A certificate issued by a state authority (like the Secretary of State) that authenticates a notary's signature and seal for documents intended for use in foreign countries.

• Jurat: A notarial act where the notary certifies that the signer appeared before them, signed in their presence, and took an oath or affirmation.

• L.S. (Locus Sigilli): Latin for "the place of the seal," often appearing on documents to indicate where the notary's seal should be placed.

• Oath: A solemn pledge to a Supreme Being that a statement is true.

• Personal Appearance: The requirement that a signer be physically present in the same room as the notary at the time of the notarial act.

• S.S. (Scilicet): Latin for "to wit" or "namely," typically found in the venue section of a certificate to indicate the specific state and county.

• Venue: The section of a notarial certificate stating the state and county where the notarization is actually taking place. 

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Signing Service & Loan Industry Nomenclature

These terms are specific to the specialized role of a Notary Signing Agent working with lenders and title companies. 

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• Borrower (Mortgagor): The individual applying for and receiving loan funds, who is obligated to repay them.

• Closing Disclosure (CD): A five-page form that provides final details about the mortgage loan, including loan terms, projected monthly payments, and total costs.

• Escrow: A neutral third party that holds funds or documents during a transaction until all conditions are met.

• HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit): A type of loan that allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their home as needed.

• NKA / FKA / AKA: Common acronyms in name affidavits meaning "Never Known As," "Formerly Known As," and "Also Known As".

• Notary Signing Agent (NSA): A notary with specialized training to handle loan document packages, often hired as an independent contractor by signing services.

• P.O.C. (Paid Outside of Closing): Fees that have already been paid before the final settlement.

• Signing Service: A company that acts as a middleman, subcontracting signing appointments to mobile notaries on behalf of lenders or title companies.

• Signature and Name Affidavit: A document where the signer swears to all names they have ever used or are currently using. 

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