A jurat is not the affidavit itself. The New York booklet is careful on that point. A jurat is the part of the affidavit where the officer certifies that the affidavit was sworn to before the officer. The familiar form is: “Sworn to before me this … day of …”
This matters because people often use “affidavit” to describe the whole package, when in fact the affidavit is the sworn statement and the jurat is the officer’s certificate attached to it. A valid jurat requires a genuine oath or affirmation, personal appearance, and the officer’s certification in proper form.
Why it matters: In New York, a jurat belongs with affidavits and oath practice. It should not be confused with an acknowledgment, which concerns execution of an instrument rather than sworn truthfulness.
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