Affidavit Notarization at Your Home, Office or Bedside

What happens when an affidavit is notarized

An affidavit is a written statement of facts that the signer (the affiant) swears or affirms is true. What turns a typed statement into an affidavit is the ceremony in front of an officer authorized to take it. In Tennessee, notaries public are authorized to administer oaths and take affidavits, and the notary’s closing certificate on an affidavit is called a jurat.

When Karen McCormick notarizes your affidavit, she will:

1. Confirm who you are using a current, acceptable photo ID.
2. Check the document is complete. Blank spaces meant for facts need to be filled in before anything is signed.
3. Administer the oath or affirmation. You state, out loud, that the contents are true. Tennessee treats an affirmation as an oath, so you can choose either.
4. Watch you sign the affidavit in her presence.
5. Complete the jurat, sign it, apply her notary seal and record the notarization in her journal.

Because the notary comes to you, all of this can happen at your kitchen table, your office or a hospital room. If you are unsure whether your form needs a jurat or an acknowledgment, the guide to acknowledgments versus jurats explains the difference.

Affidavits people commonly bring to a notary

Affidavits turn up across courts, government offices, banks and insurers. Examples include:

• Small estate affidavits, used in Tennessee to collect a modest estate without full probate. See how the small estate affidavit works in Hamilton County.
• Self-proving affidavits for wills, signed by the will’s witnesses before a notary so they may not need to testify later.
• Affidavits of residency or identity, requested by schools, agencies or employers.
• One-and-the-same-person or name affidavits, when records show a name in different forms.
• Financial and insurance affidavits, such as statements about lost items, support or claims.
• Affidavits used in family and civil court matters, prepared with or requested by an attorney.

The agency or court asking for the affidavit usually supplies the form or tells you what it must contain. Follow those instructions exactly.

What the notary does not do

A notary’s job is to identify you, put you under oath and certify the signing. It is not to judge whether your statement is correct or whether it is the right document for your case. Karen is not an attorney and does not give legal advice. As a Legal Document Assistant she can help with document preparation, but the facts are yours, and anything that affects your legal rights, such as court filings or estate matters, should be reviewed by a Tennessee attorney. The article on what a notary can and can’t do covers these limits.

It is also worth knowing the stakes. Under Tennessee’s perjury statute, knowingly making a false statement under oath with intent to deceive is a crime. Read your affidavit carefully before you swear to it.

Getting ready for an affidavit appointment

• Have the affidavit fully typed or written, with every fact filled in, but leave the signature line empty.
• Bring a current government-issued photo ID; the Tennessee acceptable ID guide lists the usual options.
• Make sure the name on your ID matches the name on the affidavit, or mention any difference when you book.
• If several people are signing separate affidavits, they can all be seen at one visit as long as each is present.

Affidavits often travel with other documents. Related services include oaths and affirmations on their own and will and trust signings, and the full list is on the notary services overview.

Affidavit or unsworn declaration?

Some forms are not affidavits at all. A declaration signed “under penalty of perjury” is a statement you sign without an oath and often without a notary. Tennessee’s perjury law covers those declarations too, so they are not a casual alternative, but they follow different signing rules.

Look at the wording at the bottom of your form. Phrases such as “sworn to and subscribed before me,” a blank for a notary’s signature and seal, or the word “affiant” point to an affidavit that needs a notary. If the form only asks you to sign under penalty of perjury and has no notary block, ask the office that requested it whether notarization is needed before you book. That quick check can save you an appointment you do not need, or catch one you do.

Areas served for affidavit notarization

Priority Mobile Notary Services is based in Hixson and travels to signers across Hamilton County and nearby communities, including:

• Chattanooga
• Hixson
• Red Bank
• Signal Mountain
• Soddy-Daisy
• Sale Creek
• Flat Top Mountain
• Mowbray
• Bakewell
• Harrison
• Ooltewah
• Brainerd
• East Brainerd
• East Ridge
• Dunlap (Sequatchie County)

Frequently asked questions

Do I sign the affidavit before I meet the notary?

No. Bring it unsigned. For a jurat, the notary has to watch you sign and administer the oath or affirmation at the same appointment.

Can a notary write my affidavit for me?

A notary cannot decide what your affidavit should say or give legal advice about it. Karen can assist with document preparation as a Legal Document Assistant, but the facts and wording must come from you, and legal questions belong with an attorney.

What is the difference between swearing and affirming?

An oath is sworn; an affirmation is a solemn promise without a religious reference. Tennessee law treats an affirmation as an oath, so either one works for an affidavit.

Does a notarized affidavit prove my statement is true?

No. The notary confirms who signed and that you swore or affirmed the statement. The truth of the contents is your responsibility, which is why a knowingly false sworn statement can be prosecuted as perjury in Tennessee.

Can you come to me for an affidavit anywhere in the Chattanooga area?

Yes, within the service area listed on this page. The notary can meet at your home, workplace, a hospital or an assisted living facility.

Book an affidavit notarization

Call Karen at (423) 401-8316 or request a time through the contact page. Tell her what the affidavit is for, how many signers there are and where you would like to meet. Same-day appointments may be available.