Affidavits

What is included in an Affidavit?

• The full name of the person swearing the affidavits
• The address of the person swearing the affidavits
• Reasons for the affidavits
• Other information as requested by the court or third party
• Signature and dates for the affiant and the notary public

Affidavit of Residence

It is used to verify or confirm the home address of an individual. Typical scenarios include verifying your home address for tax or business reasons.

Affidavits of Heirship

This type of affidavit is use when a spouse or close member of the family dies, and their assets must be distributed to the right people. It is used to assert the legal rights to the assets left behind by the deceased.

Affidavit of Name change

This type of affidavit is used to prove a change of name. It is mostly used to prove that an individual has legally changed when a marriage or divorce took place. Typically, it requires you to state your current name, the new name and the jurisdiction where the change took place.

Affidavits of Death

After the death of a person, a close relative may have to sign an affidavit to notify a bank, company, court, or other entity that the individual has passed away; it is used to establish that the person is dead.

Affidavits of Small Estate

This affidavit is often used when a spouse or relative died without leaving a will. Many courts offer a “small estate” proceeding where the value of all property falls below a certain amount; however, the individual in charge of the estate must attest to the fact that the assets are under that minimum threshold. This affidavit requires the signer to swear that they're the person who must be in charge of settling the estate and distributing any properties and assets left behind.

Regardless of the reason you’re requested to prepare an affidavit, it is essential that the necessary guidelines are followed to ensure the document has full force and impact under the law. An affidavit is not always considered legal until it has been witnessed or notarized by a legal official. An affidavit becomes a sworn document once it is signed by both parties. Lying or providing false information on an affidavit will render it invalid and is punishable by law.