LegalTips.ORG - Connecticut Code 2003

CHAPTER 8
UNIFORM RECOGNITION OF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACT

Table of Contents

Sec. 1-57. Definitions. Authorized officers.
Sec. 1-58. Proof of authority to perform notarial act.
Sec. 1-59. Certification by person taking acknowledgment.
Sec. 1-60. Form of certificate.
Sec. 1-61. "Acknowledged before me" defined.
Sec. 1-62. Statutory short forms of acknowledgment.
Sec. 1-63. Prior acts unaffected. Method additional.
Sec. 1-64. Uniform interpretation.
Sec. 1-65. Short title: Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act.

For the purposes of this chapter, "notarial acts" means acts which the laws and regulations of this state authorize notaries public of this state to perform, including the administering of oaths and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents. Notarial acts may be performed outside this state for use in this state with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of this state by the following persons authorized pursuant to the laws and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the laws and regulations of this state: (1) A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed; (2) a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed; (3) an officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed; (4) a commissioned officer in active service with the armed forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the armed forces to perform notarial acts if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: A merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the armed forces of the United States, or any other person serving with or accompanying the armed forces of the United States; or (5) any other person authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed.
(1969, P.A. 270, S. 1.)

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(a) If the notarial act is performed by any of the persons described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of section 1-57, other than a person authorized to perform notarial acts by the laws or regulations of a foreign country, the signature, rank or title and serial number, if any, of the person are sufficient proof of the authority of a holder of that rank or title to perform the act. Further proof of his authority is not required.
(b) If the notarial act is performed by a person authorized by the laws or regulations of a foreign country to perform the act, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if: (1) A foreign service officer of the United States resident in the country in which the act is performed or a diplomatic or consular officer of the foreign country resident in the United States certifies that a person holding that office is authorized to perform the act; or (2) the official seal of the person performing the notarial act is affixed to the document; or (3) the title and indication of authority to perform notarial acts of the person appears either in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source of such information.
(c) If the notarial act is performed by a person other than one described in subsections (a) and (b), there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if the clerk of a court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed certifies to the official character of that person and to his authority to perform the notarial act.
(d) The signature and title of the person performing the act are prima facie evidence that he is a person with the designated title and that the signature is genuine.
(1969, P.A. 270, S. 2.)

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The person taking an acknowledgment shall certify that: (1) The person acknowledging appeared before him and acknowledged he executed the instrument; and (2) the person acknowledging was known to the person taking the acknowledgment or that the person taking the acknowledgment had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person described in and who executed the instrument.
(1969, P.A. 270, S. 3.)

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The form of a certificate of acknowledgment used by a person whose authority is recognized under section 1-57 shall be accepted in this state if: (1) The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations of this state; (2) the certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken; or (3) the certificate contains the words "acknowledged before me", or their substantial equivalent.
(1969, P.A. 270, S. 4.)

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The words "acknowledged before me" mean: (1) That the person acknowledging appeared before the person taking the acknowledgment; (2) that he acknowledged he executed the instrument; (3) that, in the case of: (A) A natural person, he executed the instrument for the purposes therein stated, (B) a corporation, the officer or agent acknowledged he held the position or title set forth in the instrument and certificate, he signed the instrument on behalf of the corporation by proper authority, and the instrument was the act of the corporation for the purpose therein stated, (C) a partnership, the partner or agent acknowledged he signed the instrument on behalf of the partnership by proper authority and he executed the instrument as the act of the partnership for the purposes therein stated, (D) a person acknowledging as principal by an attorney in fact, he executed the instrument by proper authority as the act of the principal for the purposes therein stated and (E) a person acknowledging as a public officer, trustee, administrator, guardian, or other representative, he signed the instrument by proper authority and he executed the instrument in the capacity and for the purposes therein stated; and (4) that the person taking the acknowledgment either knew or had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person named in the instrument or certificate.
(1969, P.A. 270, S. 5.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 1995 the Revisors substituted editorially the letters (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) for (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) in Subdiv. (3) for consistency with statutory usage).

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The forms of acknowledgment set forth in this section may be used and are sufficient for their respective purposes under any law of this state. The forms shall be known as "Statutory Short Forms of Acknowledgment" and may be referred to by that name. The authorization of the forms in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.
(1) For an individual acting in his own right:
State of ....
County of ....
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name of person acknowledged).