A Complete Guide To The Law Of Affidavit In India

The Affidavit is famous in the fields of law, business, finance, etc. They can be them in situations such as child support claims in court, confirmation of your authority to act for the company, or proof of your identity.
Although affidavits are widely and frequently used, many do not know what affidavits are, how to use affidavits, or how to write affidavits.
About The Law Of Affidavit

 

Inspired by an article: https://lawyers.mysore.servicemall.in/articles/a-complete-guide-to-the-law-of-affidavit-in-india/a-complete-guide-to-the-law-of-affidavit-in-india.html

About The Law Of Affidavit

What Is An Affidavit In Indian Law?

 

 

An affidavit is defined as a written sworn declaration of fact made voluntarily by an individual under an affirmation or oath administered by a person approved by law to do so. Such a statement is observed by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public or commissioner of oaths, to the validity of that person's signature.

Affidavit" should include "oath," and where permitted by law, the person who takes the oath rather than the oath is allowed to declare.

How Can I Write An Affidavit In India?

Key Features Of An Affidavit

  • An Affidavit should be in writing.
  • Since the Affidavit is used as a record in court, it must be in writing. The person making the Affidavit is responsible for the contents of the Affidavit. It also prevents people from making false claims because they are punishable offenses.
  • The Affidavit should be a declaration made by an individual.
  • An Affidavit may be drawn up by an individual and not by any artificial persons such as Companies and other associations or groups of individuals.
  • It must relate to facts on its own
  • The Affidavit should mention only the facts according to the best knowledge and belief of the deponent. It should not be based on assumptions or mere inferences.
  • It has to be done in the first person. 
  • Affidavits cannot be made on behalf of other persons. The aim is to prevent things from being declared beyond the practical knowledge of a person. The deponent must state the facts known to him/her. It is subject to an exception, where affidavits are made on behalf of minor children or insane individuals.
  • Please do so in the presence of an officer or magistrate who is authorized to administer an oath.
  • An affidavit can be sworn only before a person having authority to attest it. For example, a name change affidavit may be certified either by a Notary Public or by an Executive or Judicial magistrate for documents created in India. In contrast, an affidavit for a lost or damaged passport can be attested only by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate, and it is beyond the authority of a Notary Public.

Do Affidavits Need To Be Notarized In India?

To get an affidavit in India, one must execute or swear an affidavit before an approved notary. The Affidavit should be made on "non-judicial stamp paper" at the cost of approximately 20 Indian rupees. The Notary must affix the certificate with his seal and a notary's stamp and should register the certificate' in the Notarial Registration Book.'

The lawyer also provided the research bureau with a booklet titled "Knowledge about Notarization and Oath Commissioners," the author of which contains the following information: 1 The following persons can attest to Non-judicial Affidavit:

 

  •  Commissioner for Oaths by State under Section 3(2)(b) of the Oaths Act (XLIV of 1969); 
  • Notary appointed under the Notaries Act 1952: -the respective area or Whole of India Notary.
  •  Magistrate -respective area.

Why Do We Need An Affidavit?

 

 

 

The Affidavit can be used for many purposes. They usually ask the court to prove that certain information is correct. In some cases, the lawyer can use your Affidavit not to appear in court or other formal legal proceedings, saving a lot of time and money in various legal events.

In many judicial procedures, especially in real estate planning matters and family law matters, an affidavit is automatically required. Without these affidavits, other legal documents may not be considered valid.

Otherwise, it will significantly increase the difficulty of proving them. The Affidavit is also useful outside of court. Insurance companies, banks, and other entities may require affidavits as part of their official functions.

What Are The Elements Of An Affidavit?

The basic form for an affidavit consists of four parts:

  • A statement that the Affidavit swears under oath to the truthfulness of the information contained in the Affidavit. 
  • Swear information.
  • Affiant signature.
  • A certificate from a notary public or other official authorized to take the oath.

How Long Is The Affidavit Valid In India?

 

 

 

Notarized documents (such as affidavits) are valid indefinitely for their contents. The time, place, and date of signing the Affidavit should be the primary considerations, or new/other evidence denies the Affidavit's content and invalidates the previous Affidavit.

The Affidavit development and its certification (notarization) should be completed on the same day as far as possible. Otherwise, it will become an avoidable document for the agency/court submitting documentary evidence.

There are various types of affidavits, and they vary significantly according to their intended purpose. For example, Affidavit of domicile, marriage, change of name, heirship, etc. Therefore, these affidavits will not expire because there is no expiration date for affidavits that are correctly signed and have real evidence for publication. The Affidavit has no validity period.

How Do You Write An Affidavit?

  • The case details are being used, including the names of parties, court location, and court case number.
  • The name, address, and occupation of the Affidavit person (called the 'deponent').
  • Contact details of the party for which the Affidavit is being made, or contact details for their lawyer.
  • The proof that the deponent gives.

What Is An Affidavit In CPC?

Under Section 139 of the CPC, the Affidavit is a written statement made before a court official authorized administering the oath. The person making the affidavits called the deponent for the 'deposes' to the facts contained therein. For example, interrogatories are answered through Affidavit. In reply to interrogatories, a party must reveal records; it is called an affidavit of documents. An affidavit is a statement that simplifies the facts into written form and affirms it in front of officers qualified to execute the oath.

Is The Joint Affidavit Valid In India?

There is no legal opposition to persons joining in a single affidavit in whole or in part. However, in this case, the court or magistrate should ensure that each declarant is handled separately. The certificate should be suitable for the actual situation of the particular case.

How Many Types Of Affidavits Are There In India?

Two types

In correspondence with the Research Bureau, a representative from Allied Legal Attorneys at Law, an Indian law firm with many practice areas including corporate law and non-resident issues, said that two forms of affidavits exist: judicial affidavits used in court cases; and non-judicial affidavits used "for all other purposes." The company's website states that "judicial affidavits must be submitted for many reasons, including but not limited to evidence or as support for applications," while non-judicial affidavits "are mainly for administrative or commercial purposes."

What Are The Different Kinds Of The Affidavit?

  • Affidavit of Small Estate.
  • Affidavit of Heirship.
  • Affidavit of Residence.
  • Affidavit of Name Change.
  • Affidavit of Support.
  • Financial Affidavit.
  • Affidavit of Death.
  • Identity Theft Affidavit.

What Is Affidavit Evidence?

An affidavit is a verified statement or proof, or in other words, it contains a verification that indicates it has been sworn or perjured. It is evidence of its authenticity and is necessary for court proceedings.

How to make an Affidavit-The Affidavit can be written in the first person or the third person, depending on who drafted the document. If it is in the first person, the document's components are usually as follows: Mark the beginning of the "truth", which usually means that everything is true but will be punished by perjury, fines, or imprisonment. Finally, it is necessary to prove the date of the organized oath and the legal Affidavit's date.

Is Notary Valid Without Registration?

 

 

 

 

Notarized documents concerning the immovable property are legally invalid, and only registration documents have legal effect. The notarized immovable property agreement is not legally enforceable in court.

Who Is The Affiant In A Divorce?

An affiant is any person who makes and signs an affidavit. At the time of divorce, the person making the complaint must sign an affidavit, swearing that all the details stated in the complaint are real. If you are the one who files a divorce case, then you are the affiant.

What Is Class 10 In An Affidavit?

A signed document is submitted to the officer in which a person is sworn in on his personal information.

Why Is Indian Evidence Not Applicable To Affidavits?

Although affidavits are recognized in Indian laws and courts, any evidence of the Affidavit is accepted only when the defendant is present in person and submits the Affidavit to the quasi-judicial authority. Before recording the statement, the officers swear an oath to the witness. According to the "Indian Evidence Act" and "Indian Oath Act," this makes the Affidavit can be used as evidence. The Affidavit itself will not have any evidential value in litigation unless the parties agree to it according to specific legal provisions. Section 3 of the Evidence Act of 1872 did not even include the Affidavit in the definition of evidence.

How Do I Get A Marriage Certificate Affidavit In India?

Documents Required For Marriage Affidavit

 

  1. The application form needs to be filled out completely and must be signed by the bride and groom. 
  2. The wedding card should be original.
  3. Proof of the address of the bride and groom-voter ID/passport/house lease agreement/driver's license/electric bill/phone bill. The address proof must be in the name of one of the applicants. 
  4. Proof of age of bride and groom– passport or tenth standard mark sheet, indicating the birth date.
  5. Proof of identity of the bride and the groom – Driver's License/Voter ID card/PAN Card/Passport.
  6.  Need two passport size photos of the bride and groom.
  7. Six photos of the bride and groom in the 2B measurement
  8. Two photos of the bridegroom when the bride is seen in their wedding dress & they are seen to take part in the marriage ceremony, preferably along with their families.
  9. The marriage affidavit is made separately by the bride and groom under the prescribed format.
  10. An affidavit, if the bride has a name change after marriage.
  11. Aadhar card
  12. Daily newspaper, which published information about the bride's name change.

They are necessary so that the oral submission/evidence/testimony is only admissible before a judge. However, as an alternative to this, an affidavit may be used. However, misleading information in an affidavit may lead to a perjury charge against the affiant. Still, if the affiant forgets to include or omits something, it cannot be penalized for any such omission. Suppose the affiant mentions some proof that does not support something in the affidavit that is not a factor. In that case, he will have to say his 'opinion.' India's affidavit law is governed by Article 139 of Order XIX of the Civil Procedure Code and order XI of the Supreme Court's Rules.

How Do I Get A Court Affidavit?

The following is the necessary six-step process required to complete the Affidavit. 

  1. Title of the Affidavit. First, you need to add a title to the Affidavit. The affidavit title only needs to tell the reader what your Affidavit will be about. Include both your name and the subject of the Affidavit. 
  2.  Make an identity statement. The next part of the Affidavit is proof of identity. You will include your personal information here, including your name, age, occupation, place of residence, and any other information related to the situation. 
  3. Write a true statement. This part of the Affidavit is used to swear that your statement of fact is accurate to the best of your knowledge. Telling the truth is equivalent to being sworn in court.
  4. State your facts. Once all these are resolved, it is time to state the facts. This part of the Affidavit may be the longest. This section does not have a certain length, and it must contain all accurate information.
  5.  Reiterate your statement of truth. After narrating all the facts, you will end everything with another statement of truth. What you need to provide is a summary so that everything you have outlined above is correct. 
  6. Sign and notarize. The final step to complete the Affidavit is to sign and notarize it. You can complete most of the affidavits and then notarize and witness, but you can only sign in the presence of a licensed witness or notary public. You must complete this part in the presence of witnesses.

Can The Affidavit Be Issued On Plain Paper?

It depends on the facts about where the affidavit will be used. Some authorities require affidavits to be used on non-judicial stamps, and some require affidavits to be made before the magistrate. So ensure for which you need to send the affidavit.

How Do I Obtain An Immigration Affidavit?

Each I-751 affidavit should cover the following essential point: 

  1. The full agent's name and address.
  2.  Place and date of birth. 
  3. Relationship with I-751 applicant and spouse.
  4.  Description of your relationship: 

           How you met the couple

The time frame you met the couple 

Give a sense of frequency (i.e., socializing often) 

  1. Explain in detail how this person (for example, a friend) acquired this knowledge
  2.  Date and signature.

What Is The Difference Between A Stamp Paper And An Affidavit?

Affidavit on stamp papers is on the "Non-Judicial Stamp Paper" meaning. It is not the court's judicial duty, which is ADMINISTERED on oath before the Notary appointed by the State Government, and the stamp duty is paid based on the stamp act. The second category of affidavits, which are administered on oath before the oath commissioner appointed by the High Court and which are written on plain paper and are judicial function and stamp duty shall be exempted from the stamp act and, where the stamp duty is imposed on affidavits to be used by the court for judicial purposes, shall pay adhesive court fees.

Can The Affidavit Be Revoked?

The Mumbai High Court held that once a written affidavit is submitted, it cannot withdraw it.

What Is The Difference Between Declaration And Affidavit?

The Affidavit will include a written statement of one or more specific events based on how the author of the statement recalled the facts. The statement or claim in the statutory declaration is considered valid, but the declaration is only an affirmative statement by the declarant or author. The author of the Affidavit will correctly sign the written record. When the author signs the document, the Affidavit is considered authentic. The author will also witness an oath officer, who is also called a notary public.

The person making the declaration signs the statutory declaration, but any qualified witness may be present. Qualified witnesses include: 

  • Justice of the Peace
  • Legal counsel

What Is An Affidavit For Change Of Name?

An affidavit has to be made on stamp paper. The affidavit must specify your old name, new name, the reason for a name change (marriage, legal, numerological, etc.), and address. The name change affidavit must be signed by two witnesses and gazetted officer rank along with their stamp.

Advertise

We will place an advertisement in the national newspaper to change your name. Those married women should also mention the husband's name and permanent address in the notification.

Gazette Procedure

 After submitting the initial name change application, your name must be published in the National Gazette. We will track publications daily. After the publication is complete, we will send you a copy of the gazette containing the details of the publication page.

 

How Can I Change My Name On All Certificates?

Procedure for changing the name in educational certificates

  1.  Affidavit. Seek help from a local notary public to make an affidavit to change the name.
  2.  Publish in the newspaper. Next, you need to publish the name change in at least two local newspapers. 
  3. Gazette announcement. After publishing, you should notify it in the official gazette of your place of residence. 
  4. Verification. Now comes the part where the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Transportation verifies your documents. 
  5. Approval. After obtaining the Secretary's approval, you must submit it to the local gazette office. You also need to pay to publish it in the newspaper at the office.

How To Get An Affidavit Online In India?

To make an affidavit on our portal, please first select the Affidavit you need from the list provided above. Then select your state and click the "Create Document" button. Submit your details in the affidavit form, and you can also view the preview of the Affidavit on the side. After filling in all required fields, pay and place an order. You can download the soft copy or choose home delivery.

How Do You Obtain Notarized Documents In The United States?

The notarization process is usually simple. You submit the document to a notary public and sign in front of them. After that, the Notary officially notarizes the form using the official stamp, writes on the date, and attaches his signature. The Notary will usually ask to see the photo ID to confirm that you are indeed the person they notarized on the document. The Notary will also ensure that you understand the meaning of what you have signed and intend to do so.

What Are The Penalties For False Affidavits?

Treat the affidavit as testimony in writing. You lift your right hand in court and swear that the evidence you intend to give is the facts, the entire truth, and nothing other than the truth. In an affidavit, you swear under penalty of perjury that the evidence you outlined in the document is valid to the best of your comprehension. Lying in an affidavit is the same as lying in court testimony, and it constitutes a crime called perjury.

Cost Of The Affidavit In India

How Much Is The Cost Of An Affidavit In India?

To obtain an affidavit in India, one must execute or swear an affidavit before an approved notary. An affidavit must be made on a "non-judicial stamp paper," costing approximately 20 Indian rupees (INR). The Notary must certify the attestation with his seal plus a notary stamp, and this attestation "should always be entered in the Notarial Registration Book."

What Is The Cost Of Notarization In India?

Stamp duty for court fees exceeding 25 rupees and an affidavit fee of 15 rupees. If the Affidavit is used outside India, the Notary may charge a fee of up to 150 rupees. Since most people don't know that there are prescribed fees, It's relatively easy to overcharge them, even though Suresh Borate, chairman of the Pune Notaries' Association, says this doesn't happen. If someone has been overcharged, they should make an official complaint. We'll also forward the complaint to the law ministry, he said. Lawyers admit that there is an overcharge, depending on the urgency and nature of the document.

References & Citation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affidavit

https://nlla-india.webs.com/

https://www.indialawyers.org/

https://www.nla.org/

https://www.uianet.org/en