Template / Notary-Ready Document

Affidavit Form Template (Free, Notary-Ready)

Direct Answer

An affidavit form is a pre-built document that already contains the caption, the identification paragraph, the numbered factual statements, the jurat (oath clause), the signature block, and the notary acknowledgment. The full General Affidavit Template below is attorney-drafted, free to use, and structured to notarize without modification. Replace the bracketed placeholders with the case-specific facts, sign in front of a notary public, and the document is ready to file.

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Reviewed by David Chen, Esq., Legal Review DirectorCredentials: J.D., Columbia Law School, NY & NJ Bar
Blank general affidavit form template with caption block, numbered statement lines, jurat clause, signature block, and notary seal placement
Attorney drafted
Reviewed by David Chen, Esq., Legal Review Director
Notary-ready jurat
Jurat block included, NOT acknowledgment
Word & PDF compatible
Drops into Word or any text editor with no reformatting
All-state structure
Works in CA, TX, FL, OH, MO and most other states
The Template

General Affidavit Template (Attorney-Drafted)

The full document is below. Each section is paired with a drafting note explaining what to put in the bracketed fields and when to modify the language. Copy the body straight into Word or any text editor; the structure works in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Missouri, and most other states (state-specific notes are further down the page).

GENERAL_AFFIDAVIT.docx
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STATE OF [STATE]                    )
                                    )  ss.
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]                  )


                          AFFIDAVIT OF [AFFIANT FULL LEGAL NAME]


    BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared
[Affiant Full Legal Name], who, being by me first duly sworn, on oath
deposed and stated as follows:


    1.  My name is [Affiant Full Legal Name]. I am over the age of
        eighteen (18), of sound mind, competent in all respects to make
        this Affidavit, and have personal knowledge of the facts stated
        herein, all of which are true and correct.

    2.  I reside at [Affiant Street Address, City, State, ZIP].

    3.  [State the first material fact in plain, first-person language.
        Each fact gets its own numbered paragraph. Stick to what the
        affiant personally observed, said, did, or heard. Strip out
        opinions, conclusions of law, and hearsay.]

    4.  [State the second material fact. If the fact references a
        document, attach it as Exhibit A and call it out here:
        "A true and correct copy of [document] is attached hereto as
        Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference."]

    5.  [Continue numbering each fact. Add or remove paragraphs as the
        matter requires. Most general-purpose affidavits run between
        three and ten numbered paragraphs.]


    FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.


    I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
[State] that the foregoing is true and correct.


    Executed on this _____ day of ________________, 20____, at
[City, State].



                                    _______________________________________
                                    [Affiant Full Legal Name], Affiant



================================================================================
                              NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT
                                  (JURAT FORM)
================================================================================

STATE OF [STATE]                    )
                                    )  ss.
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]                  )

    Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _____ day of
________________, 20____, by [Affiant Full Legal Name], proved to me on
the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person who appeared before
me.



                                    _______________________________________
                                    Notary Public Signature

                                    _______________________________________
                                    Notary Public Printed Name

                                    Commission Number: ____________________

                                    My Commission Expires: ________________

                                    [NOTARY SEAL / STAMP]
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Workflow

How to Use the Affidavit Template

Six steps from blank template to filed document. Steps three and four are where most homemade affidavits fail: drafted recitations that include hearsay or pre-signed before the notary appointment.

Six-step affidavit template workflow from copy to fill, attorney review, notarization, filing, and copy retention
  1. 1

    Copy the template

    Copy the General Affidavit Template body below into a Word document or text editor. The bracketed fields ([Affiant Name], [State], [Case No.]) are the only spots that need editing.

  2. 2

    Fill in the case-specific facts

    Replace each bracketed placeholder with the matching fact. Keep numbered statements in the first person and present tense. Strip out opinions, conclusions of law, and hearsay. Attach exhibits by letter.

  3. 3

    Have the draft reviewed (when stakes are high)

    For court filings, probate petitions, immigration matters, or anything served on opposing counsel, send the draft through /get-a-quote so an attorney can confirm the recitations match the controlling rule.

  4. 4

    Sign in front of a notary public

    Do not pre-sign. The notary watches the affiant sign, verifies identification, administers the oath, completes the jurat block, signs, and stamps the seal. Without a properly executed jurat, the document is not an affidavit.

  5. 5

    File or deliver the original

    File the original with the court (when the affidavit supports a motion or petition), record it with the county (when it accompanies a deed transfer or estate document), or deliver it to the agency requesting it.

  6. 6

    Keep at least two notarized copies

    Keep one notarized copy in the affiant's records and a second copy for opposing counsel where service rules require it. Most courts and recorders return the original; the copies are the affiant's working file.

Specialized Templates

Affidavit Templates by Use Case

The General Affidavit Template above covers most general-purpose filings. For use cases where the recitations follow a specific format (immigration, probate, family law, vehicle title, vital records), the specialized templates below are pre-filled with the required language for that use case.

Single Status Affidavit

Sworn statement of unmarried status, used by foreign marriage authorities and U.S. immigration filings.

Affidavit of Domicile

Confirms the decedent's state of residence at death, used by transfer agents to release stock and bond holdings.

Gift Affidavit

Sworn statement that property (often a vehicle or cash gift) was transferred without consideration, used by state DMVs and tax filings.

Name Change Affidavit

Sworn statement that two names refer to the same person, used by banks, the Social Security Administration, and recordkeepers.

Residency Affidavit

Sworn statement of current address for school enrollment, in-state tuition, voter registration, or government benefits.

Paternity Affidavit

Voluntary acknowledgment of legal fatherhood when the parents are unmarried, replacing a paternity court order.

Identity Affidavit

Used by banks, the post office, and real estate closings to confirm an affiant's identity when a discrepancy needs resolving.

Same-Person Affidavit

Sworn statement that two name variations (married vs maiden, signature mismatch, recordkeeping error) belong to the same person.

Witness Affidavit

Sworn factual recitation by a third-party witness, used to support court motions and administrative filings.

Character Affidavit

Sworn statement attesting to a person's reputation, conduct, and integrity, often filed in immigration, sentencing, and licensing matters.

Affidavit of Support

USCIS Form I-864, sponsoring an immigrant by attesting that the sponsor's income meets the federal poverty threshold.

Bona Fide Marriage Affidavit

Sworn statement supporting a Form I-751 (removal of conditions) filing, attesting that the marriage is genuine.

Affidavit of Heirship

Names the legal heirs of a person who died without a will, used to clear title to real property without formal probate.

Small Estate Affidavit

Transfers a decedent's personal property when the estate falls under the state's small-estate threshold.

Financial Affidavit

Sworn schedule of income, expenses, assets, and debts, required in family-court matters and some bankruptcy filings.

Self-Proving Affidavit

Attached to a will so witnesses confirm execution under oath at signing, sparing the executor from calling them at probate.

State-Specific Notes

State-Specific Affidavit Filing Notes

The General Affidavit Template above is structured to work in most states. Five state notes below cover the most common drafting variations and the state-issued forms that supersede a general template.

California

California Code of Civil Procedure § 2015.5 allows an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury in lieu of an affidavit for state-court filings. The declaration must include the venue (state and date of execution) and the words "under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California."

Texas

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 132.001 allows an unsworn declaration in most civil matters, with a specific statutory format that includes the affiant's date of birth and address. The General Affidavit Template above can be used in Texas; for the unsworn declaration alternative, swap the jurat for the § 132.001 declaration block.

Florida

Florida courts accept both notarized affidavits and unsworn declarations under § 92.525. Florida DMV affidavits (gift, ownership transfer, lost title) require the official Florida DMV form rather than a general affidavit; the General Affidavit Template here is for non-DMV use cases.

Ohio

Ohio Revised Code § 147.55 requires the notary jurat to include the venue, the date, the affiant's signature in the notary's presence, and the notary's commission expiration date. The General Affidavit Template above includes each of those fields.

Missouri

Missouri General Affidavit Form 768 is the state-issued blank used for non-court general-purpose affidavits. The structure mirrors the General Affidavit Template above; substitute the Missouri form for state-agency filings that require Form 768 specifically.

Notarization Checklist

Notary Block Validity Checklist

An affidavit is only sworn if the jurat is properly executed. Walk through these eight checks before leaving the notary's desk. A missed item invalidates the document and forces a re-do.

  • Affiant signed in the notary's physical (or remote, where authorized) presence, NOT before the appointment
  • Notary verified the affiant's identification (driver's license, passport, or other satisfactory proof)
  • Notary administered the oath verbally ("Do you swear under penalty of perjury...")
  • Jurat block (NOT an acknowledgment block) is used at the foot of the document
  • Venue line names the state AND county where the oath was administered
  • Notary signature, printed name, commission number, and seal/stamp are all present
  • Notary commission has not expired (check the expiration date on the seal)
  • Notary's commission state matches the venue line on the document

Remote online notarization (RON)

Most states now authorize remote online notarization, where the affiant and notary appear by audio-video instead of in person. RON is fastest for affidavits where the affiant cannot physically reach a notary, but check that the receiving court or agency accepts RON-notarized documents before booking the session.

Affidavit Form FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Affidavit Forms

Sourced from the People Also Ask box for affidavit form, where can I get an affidavit form, affidavit format, and affidavit form free.

Can you download an affidavit form?
Yes. The General Affidavit Template above is free to copy directly from the page or download as a Word or PDF file. Fill in the bracketed placeholders, sign in front of a notary public, and the document is ready to file or deliver. For a use-case-specific form (single status, gift, name change, residency, paternity, identity), see the Affidavit Templates by Use Case section below for the matching pre-filled template.
What is the meaning of affidavit form?
An affidavit form is a pre-formatted document that already contains the structural pieces a valid affidavit needs (caption, identification, numbered facts, jurat, signature block, notary acknowledgment) so the affiant only fills in the case-specific facts. Using a template avoids common drafting mistakes like missing the venue line, using an acknowledgment block where a jurat is required, or forgetting the penalty-of-perjury clause that exposes the affiant to liability for false statements.
Where can you get an affidavit form?
The General Affidavit Template above is the form most courts and county recorders will accept for general-purpose use. Specialized forms for immigration (Form I-864 affidavit of support, Form I-751 marriage affidavit), state DMV transactions, and Form DS-10 birth affidavits are issued by the requesting agency directly; check the agency's website for the official version. For court filings, many state and county courts also publish blank affidavit templates on their self-help portals.
Can I draft my own affidavit?
Yes. Drafting an affidavit is not the practice of law, and the affiant is the only person who can attest to the facts. Use the General Affidavit Template above and replace the bracketed fields with your own facts. For affidavits attached to court filings, probate petitions, or immigration matters where an error can derail the case, send the draft through /get-a-quote so an attorney can confirm the recitations cover every element the court will look for.
How to get an affidavit letter?
Download the General Affidavit Template above and adapt it. An affidavit letter is the same instrument written in a more narrative form: keep the caption, the identification paragraph, the numbered factual statements, the jurat, the signature block, and the notary acknowledgment. The structure does not change; only the prose between the numbered statements becomes more letter-like. Notarize the final version before delivery for it to count as a sworn statement.
Can you create your own affidavit?
Yes. The affiant personalizes the affidavit with case-specific details: party names, dates, addresses, exhibits, and the underlying facts. Strip conclusions of law, hearsay, and opinion; keep only what the affiant personally observed. Sign in front of a notary public so the jurat is properly executed. The General Affidavit Template above is structured to make personalization fast, with bracketed placeholders for every variable field.
Do I need a lawyer to fill out an affidavit?
No, an affidavit can be drafted and signed without an attorney. That said, an attorney review is worth it when the affidavit will support a contested motion, attach to a probate or immigration filing, or be served on opposing counsel, because a missed element or an inadmissible recitation can cost the underlying matter. The simple route is to use the template above and notarize it; the safer route for high-stakes filings is to send the draft through /get-a-quote first.
Does Word have an affidavit template?
Microsoft Word ships generic letter templates but does not include a dedicated affidavit form. The General Affidavit Template above is structured to drop into a Word document with no reformatting needed; copy the body into Word, replace the bracketed fields, and print for notarization. The Word version preserves the caption block, the numbered factual statements, the jurat, and the notary acknowledgment.
How to make a simple affidavit?
Decide what the affidavit is for and pick the matching title. Add the affiant's name, address, and basis of personal knowledge in the first paragraph. Write each fact as a numbered, first-person statement. Close with the oath clause ("I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of [State] that the foregoing is true and correct."). Sign in front of a notary public, who will complete the jurat. The template above already has every one of those pieces built in; only the case-specific facts need to be added.
What do you write in an affidavit?
Write only what the affiant personally observed, said, did, or heard, in the first person and in present tense. Keep each fact to its own numbered paragraph so each statement is independently verifiable. Strip out opinions ("I think"), conclusions of law ("the contract was breached"), and hearsay ("my neighbor told me"). Attach exhibits where the facts reference documents, and call out each exhibit by letter (Exhibit A, Exhibit B) inside the paragraph that introduces it.

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