From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jurat (through French from mediaeval Latin jurat, "he swears," Lat. jurare, to swear) is the name given to that part of an affidavit containing the actual oath or affirmation.

In addition, the word can refer to the sworn holders of certain offices.

In English and United States law, the word jurat is applied to that part of an affidavit which contains the names of the parties swearing the affidavit, the actual statement that an oath or affirmation has been made, the person before whom it was sworn, the date, place and other necessary particulars. The jurat is usually located on the bottom of a document. A typical form would be "Sworn to before me this (blank) day of (blank), 20__," with the signature of the witness, often a notary public, the place, and sometimes other particulars.^[1]

Additionally, this term can be used for certain electronic forms, (such as electronically filed tax returns in certain states), where the taxpayer(s) attest to the truth of the information contained. In the case of an electronically filed tax return, the taxpayer has to provide certain specific information - his SSN for example - to "sign" the jurat. Having done this, the electronically submitted return is considered to have the same legal effect as if the taxpayer had actually and physically signed the return.

Under the ancien régime in France, in several towns, of the south-west, such as Rochelle and Bordeaux, the jurats were members of the municipal body. The title was also borne by officials, corresponding to aldermen, in the Cinque Ports, but is now chiefly used as a title of office in the Channel Islands.

There are two bodies, consisting each of twelve jurats, for the bailiwicks of Jersey and of Guernsey respectively. They form, with the bailiff as presiding judge, the Royal Court of justice in each bailiwick. Until the constitutional reforms introduced in the 1940s to separate legislature and judiciary, they were elected for life, in Jersey by islandwide suffrage, in Guernsey by the States of Election, and were a constituent part of the legislative bodies. In Jersey, the jurats were replaced in the legislature by directly-elected senators, and in Guernsey by indirectly-elected conseillers (since abolished). Jurats now serve as non-professional judges until retirement (at 72) and are indirectly elected by electoral college. Although no longer a political post, the office of jurat is still considered the highest elected position to which a citizen can aspire.

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

1. ^ Piombino, Alfred (1996). Notary Public Handbook: A Guide for Vermont Notaries, Commissioners & Justices of the Peace. East Coast Publishing, 65–66. ISBN 0-944560-97-0.