Affidavit

An affidavit is a written statement that someone voluntarily signs and swears to be true, usually in the presence of a notary public or another legal authority. It’s a formal declaration or assertion of particular facts that the signer has personally witnessed or experienced. Affidavits are often used in legal proceedings or situations where legal verification of statements or documents is required.

The key aspect of an affidavit is that it is sworn to be true, which means the person signing it is legally bound to its contents. Lying in an affidavit is considered perjury, a criminal offense. The document typically includes the affiant’s (the person making the statement) personal information, a detailed account of the facts to which they are attesting, and the date and location where the affidavit was made.

Affidavits are commonly used in court cases as evidence, in property disputes, for various financial transactions, or to verify the authenticity of documents. They serve as a way to present written testimony in situations where oral testimony isn’t possible or practical.