What term describes a statement made to a qualified official regarding the execution of a deed or document?

The term that describes a statement made to a qualified official regarding the execution of a deed or document is "acknowledge." Acknowledgment is a formal declaration made by a person who has executed a document. In this context, it typically requires that the individual appears before a notary public or an authorized official and confirms that they willingly signed the document. This is essential for certain legal documents like deeds because it helps establish the authenticity of the signature and ensures that the signatory understands the implications of what they are signing.

In real estate transactions, acknowledgment is critical because it aids in the legal process of recording the document. While the other terms—certification, recording, and habendum—are related to legal documents, they refer to different concepts. Certification involves an official validation of a document's authenticity, recording pertains to the act of entering a document into the public record, and habendum refers to the part of a deed that defines the extent of ownership being conveyed. Therefore, acknowledgment accurately captures the specific action of confirming the execution of a deed before a qualified official.