An affidavit is a written statement of facts that you swear is true before a notary public, under penalty of perjury. Courts, banks, insurance companies, schools, and the DMV ask for affidavits constantly: to prove where you live, that a signature is yours, that a title was lost, or what you witnessed.
This general-purpose form produces a properly structured affidavit: caption with state and county, sworn introduction, numbered facts, and the notary block. State your facts, download in Word and PDF, and sign before a notary.
What turns a statement into an affidavit
Three ingredients separate an affidavit from an ordinary letter. First, the oath: you swear or affirm the contents are true before an officer authorized to administer oaths, almost always a notary public. Second, personal knowledge: an affidavit states what you saw, did, or know firsthand, not rumors or conclusions. Third, the jurat: the notary's certificate reciting that the statement was subscribed and sworn before them, with the date, their signature, and seal. Because the statement is sworn, lying in it is perjury, which is exactly why institutions trust affidavits over letters.
- Common uses: proof of residency for schools, name variations for banks, lost documents for the DMV, small estate procedures, and witness statements for court.
- Sworn vs. notarized: a notarized signature merely proves who signed; an affidavit adds an oath that the contents are true.
Writing facts that hold up
Write in the first person, number each fact, and keep every sentence to something you personally know. "I saw the blue sedan run the red light at Vine and 5th on June 3" is affidavit material; "the other driver was obviously reckless" is opinion and weakens the document. Dates, addresses, and amounts should be exact. If a fact depends on a document, identify the document precisely. And resist volunteering more than the receiving institution asked for: an affidavit is evidence, and every extra sentence is a sentence you have sworn to.
Perjury is the price of a false affidavit
Swearing to a statement you know is false is a crime in every state, whether the affidavit was for a court or a school enrollment office. If you are not certain of a fact, say so in the text or leave it out.
Signing it: the notary appointment
Print the affidavit but do not sign it: the signature must happen in the notary's presence, after the oath. Bring government-issued photo ID. The notary administers the oath, watches you sign, then completes the jurat with the county and state where you actually stand, which is why this form asks where you will sign rather than assuming your home county. Notaries are available at banks, shipping stores, courthouses, and through remote online notarization in most states. Expect to pay a few dollars per signature; many banks notarize free for customers.
Frequently asked questions
Does an affidavit have to be notarized?
Traditionally yes: the oath before a notary or other authorized officer is what makes it an affidavit. Federal courts and a growing number of states also accept unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury without a notary, but when an institution asks for an affidavit, the safe answer is a notarized one.
What is the difference between an affidavit and a declaration?
Both are written factual statements under penalty of perjury. An affidavit is sworn before a notary; a declaration is self-executed with statutory language and no notary, accepted in federal court under 28 U.S.C. 1746 and in many state courts. This form produces the sworn, notarized version.
Can I write an affidavit about what someone told me?
You can only swear to what you personally know, so the honest framing is the conversation itself: "On May 2, John told me the fence was his responsibility." You know the statement was made; whether it was true is beyond your affidavit.
Who can be an affiant?
Any adult of sound mind with personal knowledge of the facts. You do not need a lawyer to make an affidavit about your own knowledge, and this form's structure, caption, numbered facts, and jurat, follows the format courts and institutions expect.
Can one affidavit cover statements from two people?
No. An affidavit carries one person's oath. If two people know the same facts, each signs their own affidavit, which is quick since the facts section can be nearly identical.