Affidavit Formats in India: Templates and How to Use Them (2026)

Format · Affidavits · Templates

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

An affidavit is one of the most common legal documents in India, used for everything from a name correction to court evidence. Yet most rejected affidavits fail on simple points: a missing verification clause, the wrong stamp paper, or an unclear oath. This guide gives a general affidavit template you can adapt, explains how to swear and notarise it, where each type is filed, and the mistakes to avoid. Last verified October 2026.

01What an affidavit is, and is not

An affidavit is a written statement of facts that the maker swears or affirms to be true before an authorised officer. The maker is called the deponent. Because it is made on oath, a false affidavit is not just a lie on paper; it can be prosecuted as giving false evidence.

An affidavit states facts, not arguments or law. It is not the same as a plaint, a petition, or an agreement. In court, affidavits support applications and can stand as evidence in the cases the rules allow, under Order 19 and Section 139 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

An affidavit states facts on oath. Keep opinions, arguments, and law out of it, and swear only to what you personally know or believe to be true.

02A general affidavit template

Here is a general template you can adapt for most purposes. Replace the text in square brackets.

BEFORE THE NOTARY PUBLIC / OATH COMMISSIONER AT [CITY]

AFFIDAVIT

I, [Full Name], [son/daughter/wife] of [Parent/Spouse Name],
aged about [Age] years, resident of [Full Address],
holding [Aadhaar / PAN / Passport No. ________],
do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

1. That I am the deponent above-named and am competent to
   swear this affidavit.

2. That [state the first fact clearly and in full].

3. That [state the next fact; use one fact per paragraph].

4. That the facts stated above are true to my personal
   knowledge, and nothing material has been concealed.

DEPONENT
[Signature]

VERIFICATION
Verified at [City] on this [Date] that the contents of the
above affidavit are true and correct to my knowledge and
belief, and nothing material has been concealed therefrom.

DEPONENT
[Signature]

03How to fill it, step by step

1. Title: name the authority at the top, for example the Notary Public at your city, or the court if it is for a case.
2. Deponent details: full name, parentage or spouse, age, full address, and an identity number. Match these exactly to your ID.
3. Body: state the facts in numbered paragraphs, one fact each. Say only what you personally know. If a fact is based on information, say so and give the source.
4. Prayer or purpose (if needed): some affidavits end with what you want recorded, for example that two names refer to the same person.
5. Verification: add the verification clause with the place and date, and sign below it.
6. Signature: sign before the notary, not before.

04How to swear and notarise

An affidavit becomes effective only when it is sworn or affirmed before an authorised officer. In practice that is a notary, an oath commissioner appointed by the High Court, or a magistrate. The officer administers the oath, watches you sign, and then signs, stamps, and enters it in the notarial register.

Many affidavits are printed on non-judicial stamp paper or e-stamp paper of a small value, and then notarised. The stamp value and whether stamp paper is needed at all depend on the state and the purpose, so confirm the local requirement.

05The common types of affidavit

The same basic format is adapted for many uses. The common ones include:

• Name correction or one-and-the-same-person: to show that two differently spelt names are the same person. See the name correction affidavit format.
• Education gap: to explain a break in study for admission or a job. See the gap year affidavit format.
• EWS and non-creamy-layer income: a self-declaration used for reservation certificates. See the EWS and non-creamy-layer affidavit format.
• Address, income, or marital status: for banks, passports, and government forms.
• Court affidavits: in support of applications and as evidence under the rules.

06Where to file, and the stamp question

Where an affidavit goes depends on its purpose:

For court use, the affidavit must follow the format and verification the court’s rules require, and is sworn before an officer the court recognises. For general use, a notarised affidavit on the correct stamp paper is usually enough.

07Common mistakes

• No verification clause, or an unsigned verification. This is the most common cause of rejection.
• Vague facts, or mixing argument and law into the facts.
• Wrong or missing stamp for the state and purpose.
• Details that do not match your ID, such as a different spelling or address.
• Signing before you reach the notary. You must sign before the officer.
• Overstating knowledge: swearing to facts you only heard about, without saying so.

08Where Claw fits

Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.

Most affidavits are routine, but some lead to a dispute, for example when a name change or an income declaration is challenged, or an affidavit is used as evidence in a case. If that happens, Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, and searches 30 crore+ judgments with results in under 5 seconds. So you can follow a matter by party or advocate name, and pull how courts have treated affidavits on the point you are dealing with.

Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models. Create a FREE Claw account to track the case by party or advocate name. To research the wider body of law, see case search across Indian courts.

09Sources and further reading

• India Code (Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Oaths Act, 1969; Notaries Act, 1952): indiacode.nic.in
• National Portal of India (government services and forms): india.gov.in
• Claw: clawlaw.in

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Stamp duty and local format rules vary by state and authority, so check the current requirement and take advice before you rely on an affidavit.

10Frequently asked questions