Fill Out General Affidavit Online

What is a general affidavit

An affidavit is voluntary sworn testimony in written form. The affiant identifies themselves, states facts within their personal knowledge, and swears or affirms before a notary that those facts are true. The notary's jurat, the subscribed and sworn to before me block, certifies that the affiant appeared, was identified, and took the oath, which is what turns a written statement into an affidavit.

A general affidavit is the all-purpose version. Where a specific affidavit form exists for a task, such as an affidavit of residence, that targeted form is usually the better fit; the general affidavit covers everything else, from statements supporting a court filing to declarations requested by an insurer or a records office.

When to use a general affidavit

Use a general affidavit when a person or institution asks for a sworn written statement and no specialized form applies. Common situations include verifying facts for a court case or small claims matter, confirming events for an insurance claim, documenting a lost document or item, stating facts about a family or financial situation for a bank or government office, and recording a witness account while memories are fresh.

The affidavit should contain facts, not arguments. State what you personally saw, did, or know, in plain sentences, and leave conclusions to whoever reads it. If any statement rests on information from someone else rather than personal knowledge, say so explicitly in that statement.

What to include in a general affidavit

A complete affidavit has a caption, an identification of the affiant, the sworn facts, and the oath.

• The state and county where the affidavit is sworn, at the top of the document
• The affiant's full legal name and address, with statements of age and competence
• Numbered statements of fact, each covering one fact in plain language
• A note of any attached pages so extra statements are incorporated into the sworn document
• The purpose of the affidavit and who it may be presented to
• A declaration under penalty of perjury, the affiant's signature line, and the notary's jurat with commission expiration

How to fill out the general affidavit template

In the editor, enter the state and county where you will appear before the notary, then your full name and address. Write each fact as its own numbered statement: keep sentences short, stick to first-hand knowledge, include dates and places, and avoid opinions or speculation. If five numbered lines are not enough, note the attached pages in the blank provided and continue your statements there. Finally, describe the purpose of the affidavit and who will receive it.

Do not sign on screen. Print the PDF and bring photo identification to a notary public; you sign the affidavit in the notary's presence after taking the oath or affirmation, and the notary completes the jurat. Many banks, shipping stores, and law offices offer notary services, and most states also allow remote online notarization.

Swearing and notarization

The oath is what distinguishes an affidavit from an ordinary signed letter. The notary asks whether you swear or affirm that the contents are true; affirming is the non-religious equivalent of swearing and has the same legal effect. The notary then verifies your identity, watches you sign, and fills in the jurat with the date, their signature, and their commission details.

Because the statement is made under penalty of perjury, review every numbered fact before you appear. If you discover an error after notarization, do not alter the signed document; prepare and swear a corrected affidavit instead.

Common mistakes to avoid

Signing before you reach the notary is the most common error, since the notary must witness the signature; a pre-signed affidavit will be refused. Other frequent problems include mixing opinions and arguments into what should be a factual account, stating second-hand information as though it were personal knowledge, leaving blanks unfilled in the final document, and forgetting attachments mentioned in the affidavit. Vague statements also weaken the document: dates, places, names, and amounts make an affidavit useful to the person reading it.