What is an Affidavit?
An affidavit can be defined as a written statement made under oath for specific legal proceedings. When an individual swears to be truthful and honest while creating an affidavit, they are regarded as the affiant. Affidavit plays a vital role in the proceedings of the court because it endeavors to provide a written account of the details about a specific case, making it easier for the judges to make a final judgment.
Affidavit plays a predominant role in the court proceedings including divorce, property disagreement, debt disputes, name change verification, residency verification, etc. One of the important functions of an affidavit is to formally legitimize a claim. These legal documents are mostly used as witness statements in any disputes. For an affidavit to be valid the individual who is signing the statement should be personally aware of all the facts and figures as disclosed in the affidavit and must take an oath that the facts ate 100% true to his/her knowledge and belief.
What is a Declaration?
To be precise, a declaration is a written statement submitted to the court of law whereby the writer swears ‘under penalty of perjury’ that the statements as enclosed are true. In other words, it would mean the writer is acknowledging that if he/she is lying, then he/she may be prosecuted for perjury. A typical declaration contains an opinion and also includes supporting documents such as photographs or any statement of proof to support the facts in the question.
A declaration is a written statement of facts that does not require any legal formalities for instance an oath of perjury or affirmation in the court proceedings. It is written by the person on whom it will be presented to the court for proving their case.
Difference Between Affidavit and Declaration
- Affidavits are written documents that are attached to an affirmation such as a sworn statement that states that the statement made in the document is true. On the opposite side, Declarations are written documents that the person signing it swears to be true, although the statements contained in the declaration are made without witnessing or swearing the person.
- Affidavits are used as evidence presented in the court proceedings. On the other hand, a declaration cannot be used as evidence in court unless it is made with personal knowledge and is relevant to the specific case.
- Affidavits are written statements that must be submitted on paper. Conversely, a declaration can be prepared and submitted via paper or electronic mode.
- An affidavit is more likely to be used in civil cases. While declaration on the other hand is likely to be used in criminal matters to prove the elements of the crime with which a person has been charged.
- An affidavit has to adhere to strict legal guidelines before it is accepted as evidence by the court. While declarations need not follow any legal guidelines for acceptance by the court.
Comparison Between Affidavit and Declaration
| Parameters of Comparison | Affidavit | Declaration |
| Definition | Affidavits are written documents that are attached to an affirmation such as a sworn statement that states that the statement made in the document is true. | Declarations are written documents that the person signing it swears to be true, although the statements contained in the declaration are made without witnessing or swearing the person. |
| Preferability | Judges prefer affidavit over the declaration. This is because affidavits are signed in front of a notary public, which makes the oath legally bound between the parties. | While it is optional for signing a declaration in front of a notary public. In most cases, it is signed by the person writing the declaration in front of a lawyer or other qualified witness. |
| Terminology | The person who is submitting the affidavit is termed as ‘Affiant’. | While the person who gives the declaration is termed as ‘declarant’. |
| Purposive | Affidavits are used in hearing as evidence specifically in legal family matters, or can even be used as legal document inverter registrations. | While declarations are used in the situation namely patent registration. |
| Legal Formalities | The affidavit has to adhere to strict legal guidelines before it is accepted as evidence by the court. | While declarations need not follow any legal guidelines for acceptance by the court. |