Acknowledgments in Missouri

Section 442.210 of the Missouri Revised Statutes prescribes the contents of an acknowledgment. The certificate of acknowledgment shall state the act of acknowledgment and that the person making same was personally known to the officer granting the certificate. The following are suggested, but not mandatory, acknowledgment forms for individuals and corporations:

1.

In case of natural persons acting in their right:

On this _____ day of ___________, _____, before me personally appeared A B (or A B C D), to me known to be the person (or persons) described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he (or they) executed the same as his (or their) free act and deed.

2.

In the case of natural persons acting by attorney:

On this ____ day of ____________, _____, before me personally appeared A B, to me known to be the person who executed the foregoing instrument on behalf of C D, and acknowledged that he executed the same as the free act and deed of C D.

3.

In the case of corporation or joint stock associations:

On this ____ day of ___________, _____, before me appeared A B, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn (or affirmed) did say that he is the president (or other office or agent of the corporation or association), of (describing the corporation or association), and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation (or association), and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation (or association) by authority of its board of directors (or trustees), and said A B acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation (or association).

In case the corporation or association has no corporate seal, omit the words "the seal affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation (or association), and that" and add at the end of the affidavit clause the words "and that said corporation (or association) has no corporate seal".

Out of state acknowledgments need to contain the content as prescribed by the statute as set forth above.

Section 442.160 of the Missouri Revised Statutes sets forth the requirements with respect to acknowledgments of Armed Forces personnel. Any commissioned officer of any of the armed forces of the United States shall have the authority to take proof or acknowledgment of any instrument in writing. The officer shall certify the act, stating the time and place thereof and setting forth his grade, serial number, branch of service and permanent mailing address. No seal is required.

There are no witness requirements for those documents, which are duly executed and properly acknowledged.