Affidavit Format · Name change
To record a change of name across your documents.
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I, [your name], aged [age] years, son / daughter of [parent name], residing at [your address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:
1.That I am the deponent above named and am competent to swear this affidavit.
2.That my name has been recorded as [existing name] in some of my documents and as [new name] in others, both of which refer to me and no one else.
3.That I have henceforth adopted the name [new name] and wish to be known by that name alone for all purposes, and I undertake to use it in all my future dealings and records.
VERIFICATION: Verified at [place] on this 14 October 2026 that the contents of the above affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that nothing material has been concealed therefrom.
What is an Affidavit?
An affidavit is a written statement of facts that you swear or affirm to be true before a person authorised to administer an oath. It is used where an office needs more than your own signature — a correction to a name, a lost document, proof of a relationship, or a statement filed in a court matter. The form on this page covers six common general affidavits: name change, one and the same person, income, residence, single status and lost document.
What separates an affidavit from a plain declaration is the oath. You sign it in front of a notary, oath commissioner, magistrate or other authorised officer, who then attests it. Signing it beforehand defeats the purpose and the attestation will normally be refused.
Because it is sworn, a false statement in an affidavit is treated seriously — it can amount to perjury or a comparable offence depending on the jurisdiction. Include only facts you know personally to be true, and say where something is stated on information and belief rather than direct knowledge.
Formalities differ a great deal by country and, within India, by state — whether stamp paper is required and of what value, who may attest, and what the jurat must say. Confirm the local requirement with the office that asked for the affidavit before you print it. This generator leaves blank space at the top of the page so the document can be printed onto stamp paper where that is the local practice.
What to put in an Affidavit
These are the details this template asks for. Anything left blank is marked in red on the preview so you can see what is still missing.
| Field | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Issued to (full name) | For example: James Whitfield |
| Father's / mother's name | For example: K. Subba Rao |
| Age | For example: 34 |
| Their address | For example: 588 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212 |
| Existing / first name optional | For example: James R. Whitfield |
| New / corrected name optional | For example: James Whitfield |
| Printing on stamp paper? | Free text |
| Stamp paper value optional | For example: $100 |
How to write an Affidavit
Identify the deponent fully
Full name, age, parentage or spouse name where the local form uses it, occupation and full address. This paragraph is what identifies you as the person swearing.
Number the statements
One fact per numbered paragraph, in chronological order where that helps. Short sentences. Attach documents as marked exhibits and refer to them by their mark.
Separate knowledge from belief
Where a fact is within your own knowledge, say so. Where it comes from records or from someone else, say that instead. Overstating knowledge is the most common flaw in a homemade affidavit.
Add the verification clause
A closing paragraph verifying which paragraphs are true to your knowledge and which to your information and belief, and that nothing material has been concealed.
Swear it in front of the authorised officer
Print it first on the paper the office asked for — plain paper, an e-stamp certificate or non-judicial stamp paper. Then take the unsigned affidavit and your identity document to the officer. Sign in their presence and let them complete the attestation, date and seal.
Affidavit format example
Here is a lost document affidavit as the form on this page sets it out, before it is signed and attested.
Affidavit for a lost document
Affidavit for Lost Document
I, Ravi Kumar, aged 34 years, son of K. Subba Rao, residing at Door No. 5-18, Brodipet, Guntur, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:
1. That I am the deponent above named and am competent to swear this affidavit.
2. That the original of my transfer certificate issued by Sunrise Degree College, Guntur, has been lost or misplaced and, despite a diligent search, it could not be traced.
3. That the said document has not been pledged, deposited, sold or handed over to any person, and that should it be recovered at any time hereafter I undertake to surrender it to the Principal, Sunrise Degree College, Guntur forthwith.
VERIFICATION: Verified at Guntur on this 11 November 2026 that the contents of the above affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that nothing material has been concealed therefrom.
Deponent
Ravi Kumar
Name change, address, income and other affidavit formats
- A name change affidavit records that you now use a new or corrected name, and some offices also ask for a newspaper notice or a Gazette notification before they change their records.
- An affidavit of one and the same person confirms that two forms of your name, such as initials on one document and the full name on another, both refer to you.
- An income affidavit states your total yearly income from all sources where no income certificate is available, but it does not replace a certificate from the revenue authorities if the office insists on one.
- A residence affidavit states where you live and since when, for an office that accepts it as address proof.
- A single status affidavit states that you are unmarried on the date you swear it, for the authority that asked for it.
- A lost document affidavit supports an application for a duplicate, and many issuing offices also want a police report of the loss.
- If the office has given you its own wording, compare it with the version you pick before you print, because some offices expect their own format to be followed closely.
Stamp paper and notarisation for affidavits in India
Where an affidavit needs stamp paper, it is usually non-judicial stamp paper. Judicial stamp paper is a different kind, mainly used to pay court fees, so say which one you need when you buy it. The value depends on your State’s stamp law and on what the affidavit is for, and two offices in the same town can want different things. Ask the office that wants the affidavit before you buy anything.
Many States now issue e-stamp certificates in place of printed stamp paper, and your State’s registration and stamps department can tell you where to buy one. In the form on this page, choose ‘e-stamp certificate’ to leave 90 mm blank at the top of the page, or ‘traditional non-judicial stamp paper’ to leave 130 mm. Print a test copy on plain paper first and hold it against the stamp paper to check the gap.
Notarisation and attestation also vary by State and by the office asking for the affidavit. A notary public is appointed by the Central or a State Government. An oath commissioner is appointed by the courts and often attests affidavits filed in court. Some offices also accept an affidavit sworn before an executive magistrate. Ask which officer the office accepts, and whether it wants a photograph fixed on the affidavit, before you go.
Common mistakes
- Signing before reaching the notary or oath commissioner.
- Swearing to facts you only heard about, without saying so.
- Leaving out the verification clause.
- Printing on the wrong stamp paper value, or on plain paper where stamp paper was required.
- Referring to attachments without marking them as exhibits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an affidavit and a self-declaration?
An affidavit is sworn or affirmed before an authorised officer, such as a notary or oath commissioner, who attests it, and a false statement in it carries legal consequences. A self-declaration is signed by you alone, usually on plain paper, and is accepted for lighter purposes. The office asking for the document decides which one it needs, so check its instructions before you prepare either.
Does an affidavit need stamp paper?
It depends entirely on the jurisdiction and the purpose. In parts of India it does, at a value set by the state; in many other countries plain paper with a notarial attestation is standard. Ask the receiving office.
Who can attest an affidavit?
Typically a notary public, oath commissioner, magistrate or other officer authorised locally to administer oaths. Some consular officers can also do it for documents used abroad. The office that asked for the affidavit may accept only some of these — a court, for example, may have its own rules on who can attest affidavits filed before it. Ask the office which officer it accepts before you print the affidavit.
Can an affidavit be typed?
Yes, and it normally should be. A typed affidavit is easier to read and harder to alter than a handwritten one. Only the signature and the attestation are handwritten: you sign in front of the officer, who then adds their own signature, seal and date. If you spot a mistake after printing, print a fresh copy rather than correcting it by hand.
How long is an affidavit valid?
An affidavit speaks as at its date: it says what was true on the day you swore it. There is usually no fixed expiry. For facts that can change, such as income, address or marital status, many offices want a recent affidavit and set their own limit on how old it may be. Check that limit with the office before you reuse an older affidavit.
This page explains general practice and is not legal advice. Requirements differ between countries and, in some cases, between states — check what applies where the document will be used.