FREE 9+ Affidavit Samples in PDF | MS Word

What do you do when you lose something and need to have it replaced? Initially, you would look for it first by tracing your steps back to where you last saw or used that thing. When all else fails, you’ll just need to ask for a replacement by securing an affidavit of loss. An affidavit of loss is just one of the many types of affidavits that are used for different legal purposes. Before getting any affidavit, you need to know what the affidavit is for and why you are asked to get one. It’s a legal document after all, so it is just right that you be extra careful about it.

What Is an Affidavit?

Evidence is one of the most important items that should be carried and presented during courtroom proceedings. That is because it is a factor that defines who really is at fault, and it also greatly affects the final verdict. A piece of evidence often speaks for itself, especially if they are documented and recorded. An affidavit is a written statement that is voluntarily made by the person or individual who needs it. What makes it a reliable piece of evidence is that it is made under an oath that is administered by an authorized entity. Providing a written statement or testimony under oath means that you swear that everything you stated is true.

Swearing and Signing

A notary public is an official who is tasked or appointed by the state government to stand as an impartial witness in the signing of important documents, such as an affidavit. A lot of people swear in front of them, and they are perfectly fine with that. In fact, swearing in the presence of a notary public is required for the notarization of the affidavit. After attesting in front of the notary public, the affiant (the person or party who filed the affidavit) will need to sign the document, which must also be done in the presence of the lawyer. The affidavit is notarized when the notary pubic has ensured the validity of the signature. Once notarized, the affidavit becomes a sworn statement.

Affidavit Samples

Affidavits have a variety of uses. It is important to have basic knowledge of the different types of affidavits, their uses and how each affidavit form looks like. Below are useful template samples that you may use as reference to help you get familiar with the different types of affidavit.

1. Sample Affidavit Template

2. Affidavit of Loss Sample for Lost Receipt

3. Sample Expansion Petition Affidavit

4. Sample Affidavit Writing Guide

5. Sample Affidavit of Posting

6. Sample Abandoned Vessel Affidavit

7. Samples Affidavit for Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

8. Sample Affidavit of Marriage/Domestic Partnership

9. Sample Construction Affidavit

10. Sample Affidavit for Search Warrant

How To Write an Affidavit

The only way to find out if something is easy or difficult is by actually doing it. So if you want to know if you are capable of writing an affidavit, then you should try making one. Following the steps below will help you get started.

Step 1: What Type of Affidavit Do You Need?

This is the very first thing that you should take into consideration before you start writing. Why do you need an affidavit? The answer to this question will help you identify the appropriate affidavit to use for your transaction. For example, if you need an affidavit for authorization, then you’ll need to learn and understand the use of an authorization affidavit.

Step 2: Build an Outline

When you have decided what affidavit to use and learned all that there is to know about it, you can move on to the next step, which is building the outline. This step will be easy since you have already educated yourself about the affidavit that you need. Using blank affidavit forms or general affidavit samples and templates as your reference will help you identify what things to include.

Step 3: Work on Your Content

After building your outline, you can now focus on writing the content of each section of the affidavit. While writing, keep in mind that this is a legal document, and you must write as accurately as possible. Your statements must be clear, coherent, and polite. You don’t want to risk sounding rude or be misunderstood.

Step 4: Get Extra Help

Getting extra hep means adding an extra step. You can make improvements to your work simply by using free affidavit forms. These forms will give you an idea of how you should state something or if you are missing important bits of information.

Step 5: Have your Affidavit Notarized

Your affidavit will be useless unless it is notarized. When you’re ready, go to your notary public, together with the complete requirements for notarization, and get that affidavit notarized. Remember that it is only valid if it is notarized.

Making important documents, such as an affidavit, does not need to be complicated. Knowledge and understanding of the entire affidavit process are enough to help you write a reliable affidavit. Using available affidavit samples and templates will help make improvements to your work. You should definitely take advantage of them now.