TO ACKNOWLEDGE anything is to admit of its existence, whether it be any known fact or circumstance, or the confession of any sentiment or act known only to ourselves.

In law, an acknowledgment is the assent of any individual, in writing, made before a competent legal authority, that any document to which it is appended is true in fact, or that it is a voluntary act on the part of a person in transferring property or any personal right to another.

The law makes it necessary that persons who execute deeds for lands, or mortgages covering any property, should acknowledge the execution of the paper in order that it may be recorded.

An unmarried person's acknowledgment alone is sufficient on any legal document; but, if married, both husband and wife must sign the acknowledgment jointly, and the wife must also, in some States, make her voluntary and separate acknowledgment apart from her husband, wherever the sale or mortgaging of land is effected.

The forms of acknowledgments closely resemble each other, and but a few of them are here introduced as examples.

Examining Witnesses To A Deed, On Oath

UPON the bible: You do solemnly swear that you will true answers make to such questions as shall be put to you in regard to the parties to the deed here shown to you, and the execution thereof; so help you God.

HOLDING UP THE RIGHT HAND:

You do swear, in the presence of the everliving God, that you will true answers make to such questions as shall be put to you touching the parties to the deed here shown to you, and the execution thereof.

A Single Grantor's Acknowledgment

State of Illinois, County of Cook,

88.

I, Martin Stone, a notary public for and within said county, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Lewis Nott, personally known to me as the real person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing deed as having executed the same, appeared before me in person and acknowledged that he signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument of writing as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

Given under my hand and seal of office, this tenth day of December. A.D. 1882.

notarial seal.

MARTIN STONE,

Notary Public.

Joint And Separate Acknowledqment Of A Deed By Husband And Wife

State of Illinois, County of Cook,

8S.

Before me, Martin Stone, a notary public for and within said county, in the State aforesaid, appeared the above-named Elias Robinson and Rhoda E., his wife, both personally known to me as the real persons whose names are subscribed to the annexed deed, as having executed the same, and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument of writing as their free and voluntary act, for the use and purposes therein set forth.

And the said Rhoda E., wife of the said Elias Robinson, having been by me examined, separate and apart, and out of the hearing of her husband, and the contents and meaning of the said instrument of writing having been by me fully made known and explained to her; and she also by me being fully informed of her rights under the homestead laws of this State, acknowledged that she had freely and voluntarily executed the same, and relinquished her dower to the lands and tenements therein mentioned, and also all the rights and advantages under and by virtue of all laws of this State relating to the exemption of homesteads, without compulsion of her husband; and that she does not wish to retract the same.

Given under my hand and seal of office, this twelfth day of November. AT). 1882.

NOTARIAL SEAL.

MARTIN STONE,

Notary Public.