An acknowledgment is a ___________ __________ or formal statement of the person executing an instrument, affirming that the execution was their free act and deed.

• A. public declaration
• B. private note
• C. company statement
• D. verbal confirmation

Answer: (A)

An acknowledgment is a public declaration— a formal statement made by the person who signs the instrument before a notary, affirming that the signing was their own free act and deed. This public declaration is what gives the document trust and validity for use in records and transactions, since it shows the signer voluntarily acknowledged their execution in the presence of a public official. The other options don’t fit because a private note isn’t a publicly witnessed verification, a company statement isn’t about an individual’s personal acknowledgment, and a verbal confirmation lacks the written record that the notary requires to certify the acknowledgment.