What does New York call proof of service?
Certificate, affidavit, or affirmation
Document Guides
New York affidavit of service
New York City licensing does not change this notarization rule. If the unsigned page prints a jurat, that is the notarial section. If it is a CPLR 2106 affirmation, do not add a notary certificate.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does New York use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Certificate, affidavit, or affirmation. New York City licensing does not change this notarization rule. If the unsigned page prints a jurat, that is the notarial section. If it is a CPLR 2106 affirmation, do not add a notary certificate.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Certificate, affidavit, or affirmation |
| Private server | Affidavit or CPLR 2106 affirmation |
| Officer | Certificate |
| Traditional notary explicit? | Form-specific |
| Perjury alternative? | Yes, affirmation |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
New York proof is controlled, for this guide, by CPLR 306 and CPLR 2106. New York City licensing does not change this notarization rule. If the unsigned page prints a jurat, that is the notarial section. If it is a CPLR 2106 affirmation, do not add a notary certificate.
The date stored for the current text is 2025-11-21. A later amendment is not described as current.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Certificate, affidavit, or affirmation. Classification used in the authority record: conflicting authority.
Private process server
Any other person files an affidavit, unless the server uses a CPLR 2106 affirmation in lieu of an affidavit. CPLR 2106, as amended effective November 21, 2025, allows that affirmation, with exclusions for a deposition, an oath of office, or an oath required before a specified person other than a notary.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
CPLR 306(d): a sheriff or other authorized public officer files a certificate.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The answer depends on the form or the server. Read the signature block on the page that will be filed.
A penalty-of-perjury or unsworn-declaration alternative is part of the official path.
Official sources do not use one signing method
CPLR 2106 allows an affirmation in lieu of an affidavit. Court forms and indexed CourtHelp copies still tell the server to sign before a notary. The live CourtHelp affidavit URL returns Page not found and is not cited as a current page.
Fields the server has to complete
- Physical description on personal delivery
- Prior-attempt details for affix-and-mail
Limit of the source
Do not cite the former CourtHelp affidavit URL as a live instruction.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Start when the page prints a jurat
Need a proof-of-service affidavit notarized? Start an online notary request.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to New York
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
CPLR 306(d): a sheriff or other authorized public officer files a certificate.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
Yes, on the path described on this page.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
New York
Accessed October 7, 2026
New York
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.