Definition of Acknowledgment

In conveyancing. The act by which a party who has executed an instrument of conveyance as grantor goes before a competent officer or court, and declares or acknowledges the same as his genuine and voluntary act and deed. The certificate of the officer on such instrument that it has been so acknowledged. Rogers v. Pell, 154 N. Y. 518, 49 N. E. 75; Strong v. United States (D. C.) 34 Fed. 17; Burbank v. Ellis, 7 Neb. 156. The term is also used of the act of a person who avows or admits the truth of certain facts which, if established, will entail a civil liability upon him. Thus, the debtor's acknowledgment of the creditor's demand or right of action will toll the statute of limitations. Ft. Scott v. Hickman, 112 U. S. 150, 163, 5 Sup. Ct. 56, 28 L Ed. 636. Admission is also used in this sense. Roanes v. Archer, 4 Leigh (Va.) 550. To denote an avowal of criminal acts, or the concession of the truth of a criminal charge, the word "confession" seems more appropriate. Of a child. An avowal or admission that the child is one's own;' recognition of a parental relation, either by a written agreement, verbal declarations or statements, by the life, acts, and conduct of the parties, or any other satisfactory evidence that the relation was recognized and admitted. In re Spencer (Sur.) 4 N. Y. Supp. 395; In re Hunt's Estate, 86 Hun, 232, 33 N. Y. Supp. 256; Blythe . Ayres, 96 Cal. 532, 31 Pan. 915, 19 In R. A. 40; Balley v. Boyd, 59 Ind. 292.
—Acknowledgment money. A sum paid in some parts of England by copyhold tenants on the death of their lords, as a recognition of their new lords, in like manner as money is usually paid on the attornment of tenants. Cowell.
— Separate acknowledgment. An acknowledgment of a deed or other instrument, made by a married woman, on her examination by the officer separate and apart from her husband.