Notary glossary
Sworn Statement
A sworn statement is any statement made under oath or affirmation that its contents are true. The oath is what makes it sworn — taken in front of someone authorised to administer one, which for most everyday paperwork means a notary public.
What makes a statement sworn
Two things. You declare, out loud and to an authorised officer, that what the document says is true. And that officer records the fact that you did so, which for a notary means completing a jurat certificate: “sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me.”
Signing a document on your own does not make it sworn, however serious the wording. Without the oath and the certificate there is nothing to show the statement was made under oath, and a receiving agency will usually send it back.
Sworn statement and affidavit
An affidavit is a sworn statement in writing. Every affidavit is a sworn statement; not every sworn statement is called an affidavit. “Sworn statement” is the broader phrase and shows up on forms that avoid legal-sounding titles — insurance loss statements, contractor statements, employment declarations.
The practical difference is naming, not substance. Both require an oath before a notary and both take a jurat rather than an acknowledgment.
Where sworn statements show up
Insurance claims, construction paperwork, permit applications, school residency forms, estate matters and small-claims filings all use them. Many are city or county forms that carry the oath language and notary block already printed at the bottom.
If a form says “being duly sworn,” “under penalty of perjury” alongside a notary block, or “sworn to before me,” it is a sworn statement and you will take an oath during the appointment.
Saying it without swearing
If you would rather not swear, you can affirm instead. An affirmation is a solemn declaration that the statement is true, made without religious reference, and it carries exactly the same legal weight. Notaries offer it routinely — the certificate wording already allows for it.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a sworn statement and an affidavit?
- An affidavit is a sworn statement in writing. The terms are used interchangeably in practice; “sworn statement” is simply the broader phrase, and many forms use it instead of “affidavit.” Both need an oath before a notary and both take a jurat.
- Does a sworn statement have to be notarized?
- It has to be sworn before someone authorised to administer an oath, which in most everyday situations is a notary. Some court filings accept an unsworn declaration made under penalty of perjury instead — check what the receiving party requires.
Related terms
Affidavit
A written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true in front of a notary. City permit packets are full of them: owner-builder affidavits, roofing affidavits, survey affidavits. An affidavit needs a jurat, not an acknowledgment.
Oath
A sworn promise that a statement is true, made to the notary before signing an affidavit or sworn application. An affirmation is the non-religious equivalent.
General notary practice, not legal advice — rules on identification, witnesses and which documents may be notarized online are set by each state. See the requirements page for your state, browse the full notary glossary, or ask us.