---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-17-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 45-17-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-17-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-17-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-17-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-17-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=474
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-17.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-16-80.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-17-1.1.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / NOTARIES PUBLIC / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-17-1. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) ‘‘Attesting’’ and ‘‘attestation’’ are synonymous and mean the notarial act of witnessing or attesting a signature or execution of a deed or other written instrument, where such notarial act does not involve the taking of an acknowledgment, the administering of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification, or the certification of a copy.

(2) ‘‘Notarial act’’ means any act that a notary public is authorized by law to perform and includes, without limitation, attestation, the taking of an acknowledgment, the administration of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification upon an oath or affirmation, and the certification of a copy.

(3) ‘‘Notarial certificate’’ means the notary’s documentation of a notarial act.

## History

Code 1981, § 45-17-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 1446, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 8, § 45.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1986, p. 1446, § 1, effective April 11, 1986, in effect redesignated former § 45-17-1 as § 45-17-1.1.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey of law of real property, see 38 Mercer L. Rev. 319 (1986).