Any individual can write or draft an affidavit. An affidavit is valid as long as the document contains a signature, bears a witness, and has a notary seal. It means that there is no need for a person to ask a lawyer to make one for them. However, it is vital to keep in mind that there are certain types of affidavits that require individuals to provide specific information to fulfill their purpose and meet legal and statutory requirements. The section below details the steps on how to write or complete an affidavit form. 1. Indicate a Title to the Document The first thing to do in filling out the affidavit form is to indicate a title for the document. The title of the affidavit enables its readers to get a grasp of what the document is about. In the title, you can indicate the name of the witness, if it is an open case or the topic of the affidavit. If the purpose of the affidavit is for it to be a court document, the person writing the document must indicate the caption of the case on the title page or heading of the document. The case caption is common in all the court documents for the case. The heading or title of the document includes the name of the court where the case happens, the case number, and the names of the defendant and plaintiff. It also includes the county and state where the person signs the affidavit form, right after the title or heading of the affidavit. 2. Write a Brief Statement of Identity The next thing an individual needs to do after indicating a title to the affidavit is to write a statement of identity. In the statement of identity, the person states their personal information that gives the reader more information about them, including their name, age, current residence, and job title. Provide any information that serves helpful in identifying the person making the statement. The section serves as a preface to the relationship of the witness to either of the parties in the court trial, including the facts that they present in the affidavit. This section of the affidavit form does not have to be lengthy. The aim is to deliver relevant information that weighs on the claims the person makes. 3. Compose a Statement of Truth After the individual introduces themselves in the affidavit form, the next step for them to fill in is the statement of truth. Through the statement, the person assures that every statement they indicate in the affidavit form is accurate. The statement of truth in an affidavit is similar to a witness taking an oath during a court trial. In filling out the statement of truth, make sure to write in the first person to identify the writer by keeping the statement concise. 4. Present the Factual Statements After gathering the necessary information of the individual that is filling in the affidavit form, the next step is about the factual statements. When writing these statements, make sure that all the factual and necessary information is present. Another tip that an individual must remember is to avoid incorporating personal opinions and observations in the affidavit. Every piece of information must remain objective, concise, and clear. The role of the individual completing the affidavit form is to relay information or to tell a story, stating essential details relating to names, addresses, age, and timelines. It is also critical to write an outline of every piece of information a person recalls from a specific scenario, determining the facts that serve relevance to the affidavit. After, arrange them in a coherent and chronological order. Each factual statement that a person indicates must be in separate paragraphs, referencing the supporting documents on an appendix page as necessary. It is also necessary to write the statements using a numbered list. 5. Reiterate the Statement of Truth After identifying all the facts to make an affidavit as a supporting document or evidence, write a closing statement of truth. Construct a quick summary that states the information above is all true to the best of the writer’s knowledge. The section need not be lengthy, similar to the initial statement of truth at the beginning of the document. 6. Affix a Signature and Notarize the Affidavit Form The final step to completing the affidavit form is signing and having it notarized. An individual can complete most of the other parts of the affidavit form before having it notarized. However, when a person is finally signing the document, there must be a presence of a licensed notary attorney or a witness. It is also the role of the individual and the notary public to sign any changes or alterations to the affidavit upon notarizing the document, each page of the affidavit, and the document itself. If there are appendices or reference pages, the notary must sign them as well. Ensure that all the necessary documents are present during the notarization of the affidavit form. It is also vital to bring identification documents, like a government-issued ID card that proves the person signing the affidavit and the person who wrote the affidavit are the same.