“A written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath” (Black’s Law Dictionary). “A voluntarily sworn declaration of written facts… commonly used to present evidence in court” (Cornell University Law School). “Any written document in which the signer swears under oath before… someone authorized to take oaths (like a notary or county clerk) that the statements in the document are true” (Nolo’s Law Dictionary).
Example Sentence
During the trial, the defendant’s lawyer brought into question the statements made by the injured person in his affidavit.
Case Study
After her accident, Jennifer’s lawyer made sure that she stated what happened during the accident to create an affidavit. This allowed her to record her exact memories of the event, so it could be brought up as evidence during the trial.
Other Important Information
Affidavits are commonly used in court cases and must be properly written and recorded. They can be essential to obtaining a reasonable settlement and may need the expertise of a seasoned lawyer. They most often include either statements from people involved with the trial, experts, or statements of costs such as medical expenses. It is important to be as honest as possible when it comes to completing an affidavit, because if one of your statements is proven to be deliberately untrue, you can be found guilty of perjury. You are not expected to remember everything perfectly, but be careful to be as accurate as you can. “Affidavits are of two kinds; those which serve as evidence to advise the court in the decision of some preliminary issue or determination of some substantial right, and those which merely serve to invoke the judicial power” (Black’s Law Dictionary). It can also be known as a deposition.