Affidavit Service in London
Fast, professional administration of affidavits for UK and international use.
Need to Sign an Affidavit?
If you need help signing an affidavit, get in touch with us:
📞 Call us: 020 7499 2605
📧 Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Affidavit Services
We administer affidavits for use within the UK at a fixed fee of £125 + VAT per document.
For documents intended for use outside the UK, please complete the form below to request a personalised quote:
What is an affidavit?
An Affidavit is a legal statement that has to be sworn or affirmed to be true.
It has to be sworn under oath (making a religious commitment) or a secular affirmation (a non-religious commitment).
Affidavits are formal statements where you confirm that what you’re saying is true—just like testifying under oath in court.
An affidavit is similar to a witness statement but it must be signed and sworn or affirmed in person before someone who has the power to administer oaths like a commissioner for oaths, solicitor or Notary Public.
When do you need Affidavits
You will need an affidavit when you are dealing with legal proceedings and judicial proceedings and court cases you need to make statements of fact based on personal knowledge.
In the UK, the civil procedure rules have made witness statements more common than Affidavits.
Affidavits are more common when dealing with civil litigation:
- Divorce proceedings
- Inheritance proceedings
- Property disputes
- Legal processes
- Trade marks disputes
- Search orders
- Debt disputes
- Importance in legal proceedings and common usage in court cases.
Key Features of an Affidavit
Exhibits are appended to the affidavit (if applicable)
Sworn statement used by religious deponents. That means the person making the affidavit. Also known as the ‘deponent’ swears on a holy book, such as the bible (christian and jewish), Quran, Bhagavad Gita and Guru Granth Sahib
Statement of truth by non-religious deponents who make a solemn affirmation that the contents of the affidavit are true..
Affidavits play a key role in judicial proceedings and courts of law.
Affidavits should include the following information:
Title, what is the affidavit in relation to (e.g. case number and details)
Perusal information – first Name, surname and address of the person making the affidavit (known as the deponent)
A statement of truth this is known as a ‘jurat’)
Sworn/Affirmed statement. E.g. ‘sworn/affirmed by John/Jane Smith at London on 1 April 2025
The Jurat, which is confirmation by the person who has administered the affidavit that it has been sworn or affirmed correctly.
What does an affidavit look like?
Below is a general affidavit template showing the standard format used in England and Wales. The exact wording will vary depending on the purpose of the affidavit and the requirements of the court or receiving authority. We prepare the affidavit for you — you do not need to draft it yourself.
Affidavit
General form — for use in England and Wales
In the matter of:
[Title of proceedings or matter]
Between:
[Claimant / Applicant] — and — [Defendant / Respondent]
I, [Full name], of [Full address], [Occupation], make oath and say as follows:
1. I am the [Claimant / Defendant / other] in this matter and I make this affidavit from facts within my own knowledge, except where otherwise stated, and where so stated I believe them to be true.
2. [Set out the facts in numbered paragraphs. Each paragraph should deal with a single topic. Distinguish between facts within your own knowledge and facts based on information from others.]
3. [Continue with further numbered paragraphs as required.]
Jurat
Sworn at [Place] this [Day] day of [Month] [Year]
Before me,
This affidavit contains [number] paragraphs and is made in support of [state the application or purpose].
This template is provided for reference only. We prepare the final affidavit for you and tailor the wording to your specific requirements. Call 020 7499 2605 to book your appointment.
It is a criminal offence to make false statements in an affidavit which is submitted to legal proceedings. The offence is called perjury under the Perjury Act 1911. “If any person lawfully sworn as a witness or as an interpreter in a judicial proceeding wilfully makes a statement material in that proceeding, which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall be guilty of perjury.”
Who Can Administer an Affidavit?
If the document is being used in the UK, here is a list of legal professionals who can administer an oath:
- Commissioners for Oaths
- Solicitor
- Notaries public
- Justice of the Peace.
- Chartered legal executives
- Licenced Conveyancer
If the document is going outside of the UK, an affidavit should be signed in the presence of a notary public to administer the affidavit.
Affidavits are still a common document submitted
What are Witness Statements and Statutory Declarations?
Witness statements are statements of witnesses that are signed off using a statement of truth and are less formal. The Civil Procedure Rules have made witness statements more common in the United Kingdom.
Statutory Declarations are very similar to affidavits but the difference between them are that Stat Decs are used in non legal proceedings, mainly for administrative matters.
What is a single status affidavit?
Sworn declaration of single status for marriage abroad
A single status affidavit is a sworn declaration confirming that you are not currently married, made before a UK notary public. It is required by many overseas registrars when a UK national wishes to marry abroad, particularly in countries that do not accept the UK Certificate of No Impediment. At Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, we administer single status affidavits at our Wigmore Street office — or by online video where the receiving country accepts remote attestation — with notarisation and apostille completed in one transaction.
If you need a statutory declaration of freedom to marry instead — a different document that serves a similar purpose in some jurisdictions — see our dedicated guide. For name changes, see our statutory declaration page.
What’s included in our single status affidavit service:
- Sworn declaration confirming you are legally free to marry — sworn on oath or affirmed
- Notarisation by a UK notary public regulated by the Faculty Office
- Apostille from the FCDO — legalises the document for use overseas under the Hague Convention
- Consulate legalisation where required — for countries outside the Hague Convention (see our legalisation guide)
- All completed in one visit at 19 Wigmore Street, London
Which countries require a single status affidavit?
Whether you need a single status affidavit or a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) depends on the receiving country. Always confirm with the local registrar before your appointment.
Single status affidavit typically required
Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Civil Status Office
Registrar General
Civil Registry
Brazil, Colombia, etc.
Philippines, Thailand
CNI usually accepted instead
For European destinations, check our Certificate of No Impediment page. The UK CNI is issued by the General Register Office and is accepted by most EU registrars.
How does the single status affidavit process work?
We handle everything at our Wigmore Street office in central London. Most appointments take around 20 minutes. Same-day and next-day appointments are available.
Contact us
Tell us the destination country and the registrar’s requirements. We prepare the affidavit wording in advance.
Swear the affidavit
Attend our office (or join by video where accepted). Swear or affirm the affidavit before a notary public. Bring valid photo ID.
Notarise, apostille (and consulate stamp if necessary)
We notarise the affidavit and submit it for an apostille from the FCDO. If the destination country is not party to the Hague Convention, we arrange consulate legalisation instead — all handled for you.
Will I need an Apostille?
If you are sending your affidavit overseas outside of the United Kingdom you might need an apostille.
As usual in these circumstances, we always recommend that you speak to your legal advisor or the person who has requested the affidavit.
We know that affidavits are often done when there are stringent time limits so we can get you an affidavit on a Next Day basis if required.
If the country is not part of the Hauge Convention, you may need to submit it for an embassy stamp. This process is called ‘legalisation’.
You can visit our Country Guide for more information on this.
What if the destination country is not in the Hague Convention?
An apostille only works in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. If your affidavit is going to a country that is not a member, you will need consulate legalisation instead. This is sometimes called an “embassy stamp” or “consular legalisation”.
The process is: we notarise your affidavit, obtain an apostille from the FCDO, and then submit the document to the relevant embassy or consulate in London for their legalisation stamp. The embassy requirement and turnaround time vary by country.
We handle the full chain — notarisation, FCDO apostille, and embassy legalisation — so you do not need to visit the embassy yourself. Visit our legalisation requirements guide for country-specific information and timescales.
Not sure whether you need an apostille or consulate legalisation?
Call 020 7499 2605 or email notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk — we will advise you on the correct route for your destination country.
FAQs About Affidavits
What is the difference between affidavits, witness statements and statutory declarations?
Affidavits are sworn under oath or solemn affirmation, mainly used in legal proceedings. Witness statements are less formal and now more common in England due to Civil Procedure Rules. Statutory declarations are similar to affidavits but used for admin stuff— non legal proceedings.
When do I need to use an affidavit?
You’ll need one in legal proceedings where you’re making statements of fact based on personal knowledge—think divorce, inheritance, debt disputes, property arguments, or trademark cases. They’re especially common in civil litigation.
What happens if I lie in an affidavit?
You’re committing perjury. That’s a criminal offence under the Perjury Act 1911. If you knowingly make a false statement in an affidavit used in legal proceedings, you can be prosecuted. Don’t mess with it—tell the truth or face the consequences.
Do I need an Apostille?
Only if your affidavit is being used outside the UK. An apostille is a certificate that proves your document is legit for use in another country. It’s issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). If you’re sending your affidavit abroad—especially for legal matters—it’ll likely need to be signed in front of a notary public and then get an apostille. If it’s staying in the UK, you don’t need one.
Related affidavits and sworn declarations
We provide a range of affidavit and sworn-declaration services at our Wigmore Street office in central London. All administered by a notary public regulated by the Faculty Office.
Statutory declaration of name change
Change your legal name by statutory declaration — a sworn statement made before a notary public or commissioner for oaths. We prepare the document and administer it in one appointment.
Read our guide →Statutory declaration of freedom to marry
A different document to the single status affidavit — a statutory declaration rather than a sworn affidavit. Some jurisdictions specifically request this format. We can advise which you need.
Read our guide →Commissioner of oaths near me
Oaths, affirmations, and statutory declarations administered in central London. Walk-in and same-day appointments available at 19 Wigmore Street, W1U 1PH.
View our service →Irish passport identity verification
Witnessing of Irish passport identity verification forms (APS2). Officially recognised by the Irish Passport Office. We take their verification calls directly — no delays for you.
Learn more →Need help choosing the right document?
Call 020 7499 2605 or email notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk — Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
If you need to swear an Affidavit – give us a call on 020 7499 2605 or drop us a line.