What is a general affidavit?

A general affidavit is a flexible sworn statement you can use for almost any purpose, where you write out the facts you are attesting to and sign them under oath before a notary.

Does an affidavit have to be notarized?

Almost always. What makes a statement an affidavit is that it is sworn, so a notary confirms your identity and witnesses your signature. Without that, it is just an unsworn statement.

What should I write in it?

Only facts you personally know to be true, stated plainly and one point at a time. Leave out opinions and guesses, because an affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury.

Is a general affidavit legally binding?

It is a sworn legal statement, and lying in it can be prosecuted as perjury. Whether it achieves a specific legal result depends on the situation and who is relying on it.

Usually just the notary. Some uses or states ask for one or two additional witnesses, so check with whoever is requesting the affidavit if you are unsure.

General Affidavit Form (Free Template)

General information, not legal advice. Some uses and courts require a specific form or particular wording. If your affidavit is for a court case or a high-stakes matter, have it reviewed before you sign.

Start here: a general affidavit is the all-purpose version, a sworn statement where you write the facts yourself and sign them under oath before a notary. Use it when someone asks for "an affidavit" without naming a specific form. Type your statements in the tool below, print it, and sign it in front of a notary. Put your name to nothing you are unsure of.

Write your affidavit ↓

General affidavit generator

Enter your name, where you are, and each fact you are swearing to. It assembles a printable affidavit with the notary section ready. Nothing is stored.

What makes a statement an affidavit

The word gets used loosely, so it helps to be precise: an affidavit is a written statement of facts that you swear to be true, signed in front of someone authorized to administer an oath, almost always a notary. That oath is the whole point. A letter describing what happened is just a letter; the same words, sworn before a notary, become evidence a court, agency, or company can rely on. Because you are swearing under penalty of perjury, an affidavit carries weight, and it also carries risk if you are careless with the truth. This general form fits the many everyday situations, confirming a fact, correcting a record, backing up a claim, where no specialized affidavit exists.

How to write statements that hold up

Good affidavits are boring, and that is a compliment. Stick to facts you personally know, not what someone told you and not what you assume, and put each fact in its own short, numbered statement so a reader can follow and, if needed, challenge them one at a time. Write "I saw the blue sedan enter the intersection after the light turned red," not "the other driver was reckless," because the first is a fact you witnessed and the second is an opinion that weakens the document. Dates, names, and places make it stronger. Leave out anything you are guessing at; if you are not certain, say so plainly or leave it out entirely. The cleaner and more specific the statements, the harder the affidavit is to attack.

Signing it correctly

An affidavit is only finished when it is sworn, so do not sign it at home. Bring the printed, unsigned affidavit and a government photo ID to a notary, and sign it while they watch; the notary then completes the acknowledgment and applies their stamp. Notaries are easy to find at banks, credit unions, shipping stores, and many public libraries, often for a few dollars, and some workplaces have one on staff. If the affidavit is going to a court or an agency, ask whether they want the original with a wet-ink signature or accept a scanned copy, and whether any specific wording or extra witnesses are required. Getting the signing right is what turns your draft into a document people will actually accept.

Common questions

What is a general affidavit?: A flexible sworn statement you can use for almost any purpose, where you write out the facts you are attesting to and sign them under oath before a notary.
Does it have to be notarized?: Almost always. What makes a statement an affidavit is that it is sworn, so a notary confirms your identity and witnesses your signature. Without that, it is just an unsworn statement.
What should I write in it?: Only facts you personally know to be true, stated plainly and one point at a time. Leave out opinions and guesses, since an affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury.
Is a general affidavit legally binding?: It is a sworn legal statement, and lying in it can be prosecuted as perjury. Whether it achieves a specific result depends on the situation and who relies on it.
Do I need witnesses?: Usually just the notary. Some uses or states ask for one or two additional witnesses, so check with whoever is requesting the affidavit.

Written by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. This is a general template; specific matters may require a particular form, wording, or additional witnesses.