Arkansas apostille requirements for notarized documents are strict! Check the acceptable notarial certificates...
Certificate of Acknowledgment:
(for personal and corporate powers of attorney, statements, letters, consents, certified diplomas and transcripts signed by school officials, etc.)
Jurat:
(for sworn statements, affidavits)
State of Arkansas )
County of . . . . . . . )
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this ........ day of ........, 20 ...... by _______________________ (name(s) of the signer(s) )
(Seal) _________________
Copy Certification:
(for certifying copies of passports, IDs, driver licenses, transcripts, diplomas and copies of other personal and corporate documents)
IMPORTANT! Copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates, divorce judgments) cannot be certified by a notary public.
State of Arkansas )
County of . . . . . . . )
I, _________________, affirm that the above/attached is a true and perfect copy of the original document ___________________, presented to me by _______________ on this ________ day of ___________, 20____.
Common Arkansas Notarization Errors to Watch For:
(These mistakes can cause your documents to be rejected for Arkansas apostilles.)
Incomplete Notarial Certificate – Missing venue, date, or type of notarization.
Wrong Type of Notarization – Using a jurat instead of an acknowledgment, or vice versa.
Missing Signature or Seal – Notaries must sign and affix their seal correctly.
Remote Notarization – Arkansas does not accept remote notarizations for apostille purposes.
Expired Commission – Notary must be currently commissioned. Old documents where the notary commission expired cannot be apostilled.
Notarizing a copy of a vital record (birth, death, marriage certificate), a copy of a divorce judgment or any document issued by Arkansas courts.
Notarizing a copy of Articles of Incorporation / Organization, a Certificate of Good Standing or any document issued by the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Notarizing a copy of a Certificate of Naturalization or any document issued by a federal agency.
Notary Stamp:
In Arkansas, a notary seal is required to validate notarizations and must meet specific standards. It can be a rubber stamp or embossed seal and must include the notary’s name, the words “Notary Public,” the county, “State of Arkansas,” and the commission expiration date. The seal can be round or rectangular, must be legible, and placed near the notary signature.
Important: Arkansas does not allow remote notarizations for documents that will be apostilled. Proper use of the seal is essential to avoid common notarization errors.
