What is meant by "jurat"?

A jurat refers to a specific notarial act where the notary certifies that a signer has sworn to the truth of the contents contained within a document. In this process, the signer must personally appear before the notary, provide identification, and take an oath or affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the statements in the document. The notary then completes the jurat by signing and sealing the document, which indicates that the necessary procedure for confirming the authenticity of the signature and the truth of the statements has been followed.

The context surrounding the other choices highlights the clarity of the definition of a jurat. While a document that certifies identity involves verifying who a person is, it does not necessarily involve their affirmation of truth regarding a document's contents. A form of digital signature pertains to electronic authentication and does not encompass the specific sworn statement associated with a jurat. Lastly, a written statement declaring the notary's authority is relevant to the role of a notary but does not define what a jurat is in relation to the acts performed during notarization. Overall, the emphasis on the act of swearing an oath about the truth of a document is what makes the correct answer distinctive.