How To Notarize An Affidavit

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• 24/7 availability to connect with a notary anytime
• Faster process than finding and meeting an in-person notary
• Recorded sessions add security and protect against disputes later

As online notarization becomes legal in more states, many processes are becoming quicker and more efficient - including the process of notarizing an affidavit.
 

Let's dive into what affidavits are and how to notarize them. 

1. What is an Affidavit? 

An affidavit is defined as a sworn written testimony or statement that attests to the accuracy and truthfulness of a specific fact. 

Most commonly used in a court of law, an affidavit is a legal commitment to tell the truth under oath. 

Evidence for Court

This document puts a person's affidavit on paper – documentation with authenticity. A person's word becomes the most important evidence in court proceedings.

An affidavit can be charged with perjury in court, just as if you were testifying in court.

Who signs it?

An affidavit is signed by the affiant, or the person making the statement, and by a person who is legally authorized to administer an oath, such as one of our notaries at NotaryLive.com, or certain government officials. 

When It Is A Sworn Affidavit

Sworn Affidavit

An affidavit represents a strong commitment to truthfulness, binding the affiant to a legal obligation rooted in integrity. 

Every sworn affidavit holds significant weight in the judicial system, serving as a cornerstone of evidence that is second only to in-court testimony.

The Different Types of Affidavits 

The Affidavit of Domicile certifies the residence of a deceased person for probate purposes. 

The Affidavit of Marriage certifies a legal marriage for official documents.

The Affidavit of Heirship provides facts about heirs for estate transfers. 

The Affidavit of Death assets the death of a person for inheritance claims. 

The Affidavit of Residency is an affidavit confirming an address. 

The Affidavit of Name Change affirms a legal name change.

The Identity Theft Affidavit reports incidents of identity theft. 

The Financial Affidavit is a sworn statement of your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. 

The Small Estate Affidavit is used when a spouse passes away without a will and swears that you are responsible for managing the person's estate. 

An Affidavit of Debt states that someone owes a specific amount of money to an entity or another person.

The Affidavit of Service is a document provided by servers after they have successfully served somebody. 

Creating an Affidavit 

Structuring an affidavit requires careful attention to detail. The narrative must be 

• well-organized,
• the trust must be affirmed,
• and the serious consequences of perjury must be considered.

Submitting an affidavit means putting one's credibility at stake. 

Make sure the affidavit is accurate otherwise. . . 

a false affidavit is a serious offense. 

It involves dishonest statements that undermine confidence in these legal documents. 

Perjury is a criminal offense because it damages the integrity of the legal system. If an affidavit contains false information, the court will respond with legal action. 

Affiants must be aware of the significant implications of their affidavits and be aware of the risk of perjury if they are dishonest. 

2. What Constitutes an Affidavit? 

An affidavit typically includes the following elements: 

• Title & Intro → Identifies the document as an affidavit
• Statement of Identity → Affiant's personal information
• Factual Narration → Declaration that the affiant swears under oath
• Affirmation or Oath → Statement confirming the truthfulness under penalty or perjury
• Signature and Date → Signature of a notary public, thus validating the identity of the signer.

3. Why Notarize An Affidavit Online?

For any affidavit to be considered valid, it absolutely must be notarized. 

Unfortunately, getting things notarized “the old-fashioned way” requires all parties to be in the same room which often requires some coordination and waiting around. 

Luckily, remote online notarization through Notary Live creates a process that is more convenient, efficient, and even more secure.

Convenience

At NotaryLive, we make it easy to connect with a remote online notary, instantly through the use of video calling technology. 

Our live notaries are available 24/7 and ready to assist you with all your remote online notarization needs through your computer, smartphone, or another compatible device. 

This can be especially helpful for people who live in rural areas, smaller cities, or those who need notarization outside of regular business hours. 

As the expression goes, availability is the best ability and 24/7 availability is impossible to beat.

Efficiency

Eliminating the need for all parties to be in the same room allows all parties to complete their part of the notarization much faster allowing affiants to get back to whatever it is they need to do. 

Our remote online notarization process is much quicker than searching for a nearby notary, making an appointment, traveling to them, and waiting. 

t is also much cheaper and easier than using a mobile (or traveling) notary.

Security

Not only is it more convenient, but online notarization is more secure than using an in-person notary. 

Unlike traditional notaries, remote online notaries provide their notarial services online through an audio/video feed using a computer or mobile device which means that these sessions are recorded in the case of a dispute where the transaction must be verified. 

NotaryLive also uses additional security measures to verify each signer's identity beyond the steps that most in-person notaries would normally take. 

This results in improved protection from fraud, forgery, or coercion.

4. What Scenarios Require Notarization For An Affidavit? 

While they may not be as entertaining as every legal TV show makes them out to be, affidavits are used in many different types of situations. 

Some of the most common uses of an affidavit are the following, but not limited to: 

• Family Law: In cases like divorce, child custody, or adoption, affidavits provide crucial evidence on finances, child support, and more.
• Immigration: For immigration applications, notarized affidavits support claims about relationships, financial banking, and other important details.
• Real Estate
• Business Conflicts
• Wills & Estates
• Court Cases
• Affidavit of Support - For International Students
• Purchasing land or real estate
• Property Disputes
• Marriage and Divorce Proceedings
• Debt Cases
• Verifying finances to a judge or bank
• Proving a relationship with a deceased individual
• Confirming another person’s identity in the case their identity was stolen.
• Absentee Ballot

6. How To Notarize An Affidavit Online with NotaryLive

The process of notarizing an affidavit or any other commonly notarized document through NotaryLive is incredibly simple.

All you need is the document you are looking to get notarized, a device with camera/microphone capabilities that is connected to the internet, and either a valid driver's license or passport. 

Once your identity is confirmed using state-of-the-art ID verification technology, you will be connected with one of our live notaries via webcam.

How NotaryLive works in 4 easy steps: 

To get started, you can click the button below.

Notarize Now!

Downloadable General Affidavit Form

FAQ For Notarizing Affidavit Online

• How much does it cost to get an affidavit in the US? 
  • Preparing an affidavit in the United States usually goes from approx $800 to $2500- 3000.
• How do I get an affidavit notarized in USA? 
  • You can use NotaryLive, a remote online notary to notarize your important legal documents or affidavits from the comfort of your own home.
• What does it mean for an affidavit to be notarized? 
  • Notarizing an affidavit is a legal fraud-deterrent method that ensures the participants in a specific transaction have an authentic document and can be trusted.
• Can I notarize my affidavit without a person present? 
  • No, a notary cannot seal and sign a document without witnessing your signature.

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**Legal Disclaimer - We are not lawyers or attorneys and do not give any legal advice. Please check with your attorneys, advisors, or document recipients if you have any unanswered questions about your documents.

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