Sworn Statement (Declaration on Honour)
1. Declarant
I, the undersigned, ______________, born on ______________, residing at ______________, make this declaration in my own name.
2. Purpose
I make this declaration for the following purpose and recipient: ______________.
3. Facts declared
I declare that the following facts are true: ______________
4. Personal knowledge and supporting documents
The facts above are within my personal knowledge. Where I rely on information from another source, I have said so and I believe that information to be true. Documents attached to this declaration: ______________.
5. Declaration under penalty of law
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of ______________ that the foregoing is true and correct. I understand that knowingly making a false declaration, or using one, may be a criminal offence and may lead to the loss of any benefit obtained with it. I will promptly inform the recipient if any of these facts changes before this declaration is used.
6. Place and date
Executed at ______________, on the date shown next to my signature.
What a sworn statement is
A sworn statement, or declaration on honour, is a document in which a person declares facts to be true and accepts legal responsibility if they are not. It stands in for proof when no official document exists, or supports an application where the recipient accepts self-declarations.
Common uses: confirming where you live, that you have no criminal convictions, that the information in a grant, job or rental application is accurate, or that a document was lost.
It is not the same as an affidavit or a statutory declaration, which are sworn or made in front of an authorised person such as a notary, a commissioner for oaths or a court official.
How it works in the US, France and elsewhere
United States: under 28 U.S.C. § 1746, a written declaration signed and dated with the words "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct" can generally be used instead of a sworn affidavit in federal matters. The statute excludes depositions, oaths of office and oaths that must be taken before a specified official other than a notary. Many states have their own similar rule, and documents that must be notarized still need a notary.
France: the equivalent is the attestation sur l'honneur, which administrations and companies often accept in place of supporting documents. Making a false one, or using one, is an offence under article 441-7 of the French Penal Code, punishable by imprisonment and a fine.
Other countries: many legal systems punish false declarations, but the required form varies. In England and Wales, for example, a statutory declaration must be made before a solicitor or another authorised person, so a self-signed statement does not replace it. If the recipient provides its own form, use theirs.
Writing a declaration that holds up
The recipient will rely on your statement, so make it precise and limited to what you know.
- Identify yourself fully: full name, date and place of birth, address.
- State facts, not opinions or promises, one per sentence, with dates and places where relevant.
- Declare only what you know personally, and say so when you rely on information from someone else.
- Name the purpose and the recipient, so the declaration is not reused for something else.
- List the supporting documents you attach, if any.
- Never sign a statement you know to be inaccurate, even if someone else drafted it: the person who signs is responsible for it.
Signing it electronically, and when you cannot
Where a self-declaration is accepted, an electronic signature is generally recognised: eIDAS in the EU, and the ESIGN Act and UETA in the US, give it legal effect. The recipient can still set its own requirements, so check them first.
A declaration you sign yourself costs nothing: fill in the fields, click Sign it now, draw or type your signature and download the PDF. The PDF stays in your browser while you sign it yourself.
SignQuick provides a simple electronic signature: it does not check your identity and it does not notarize. If the recipient requires a notarized affidavit, a statutory declaration, an oath before an official or a qualified electronic signature, this document will not meet that requirement.
Questions
Is a sworn statement signed online valid?
When the recipient accepts a written self-declaration, it generally is: electronic signatures are recognised in the EU (eIDAS) and the US (ESIGN Act and UETA). It is not enough where the law or the recipient requires a notary, an oath before an official or a specific official form.
What is the difference between a sworn statement and an affidavit?
An affidavit is sworn or affirmed in front of an authorised official, such as a notary, who records the oath. A sworn statement or declaration on honour is signed by you alone. In US federal matters, an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury under 28 U.S.C. § 1746 can usually replace an affidavit.
Does a sworn statement need to be notarized?
Not usually: a declaration on honour is signed by the declarant alone. It needs a notary only if the law or the recipient asks for a notarized affidavit or an equivalent. SignQuick does not offer notarization, so in that case see a notary.
What happens if a sworn statement is false?
Knowingly making a false declaration can be a criminal offence: perjury in the US when the statement is made under penalty of perjury, and an offence under article 441-7 of the Penal Code in France. It can also lead to the loss of whatever the declaration was used to obtain.
Can someone else sign my declaration for me?
No. A declaration on honour is personal: the person who states the facts signs it. If you declare facts on behalf of a company, say so in the statement and give your role.
These templates are general starting points, not legal advice. Laws differ between countries and states: for anything important, have the final text checked by a professional.