**Affidavit** (noun) — A voluntary written statement of facts sworn under oath or solemnly affirmed before an authorized person (such as a solicitor, justice of the peace, or notary public), subject to penalties for perjury if false.
An affidavit is a formal way of saying "this is true" in writing. You write down facts, then swear or affirm before an authorized person (like a solicitor or justice of the peace) that what you've written is true.
Because making a false affidavit is a criminal offense, courts give them significant weight as evidence.
⏱ When you'll encounter this term
In estate matters, affidavits are commonly used in probate applications to confirm facts about the deceased, the will, and the executor. For example, an executor might swear an affidavit stating they've searched for any later wills and found none.
You might also encounter affidavits in family provision claims, where people swear to facts about their relationship with the deceased or their financial circumstances. The person who swears the affidavit is called the deponent.
**Related terms:** [Probate](/dictionary/probate), Notarised, Execution, [Self-Proving Affidavit](/dictionary/self-proving-will)
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"I had to sign an affidavit confirming I'd witnessed Nan's signature on her will and that she seemed mentally capable when she signed it."