Affidavit:  Written statement signed before a Notary by a person who swears or affirms to the Notary that the statement is true. Administrative Penalty:  Punishment imposed by authorities who regulate Notaries, in the form of revocation, suspension or denial of a commission and, in some states, fines or mandatory education. Affiant:  Signer of an affidavit. Acknowledgment:  Act in which a Notary confirms having surely identified a document signer who personally appeared before the Notary and acknowledged having signed the document. Affirmation:  Spoken, solemn promise on one’s personal honor, with no reference to a Supreme Being that is made before a Notary in relation to a Jurat or other Notary act, or as a Notary act in its own right. Apostille:  Authenticating certificate required by Hague Convention that replaces a traditional chain of certificates. Attorney in Fact:  Person who has authority to sign for another. Authentication:  Process of proving the genui