General or Common Law Affidavit

An affidavit must be in writing and be sworn to or affirmed before some legally authorized officer. Statutes of various jurisdictions ordinarily prescribe various formal requirements for the affidavits. These requirements may be just proper form or may be essential as to the legal effect of the affidavit.

The formal requirements of an affidavit usually are:
1. The identification of the place where the affidavit was taken (i.e., the venue);
2. The signature of the affiant (i.,e., the person giving the affidavit); and
3. The certificate evidencing the fact that the affidavit was properly made before a duly authorized officer (i.e. the jurat), which includes the proper authentication by the authorized officer.

It is essential to the validity of an affidavit that it be sworn to, or affirmed before, a notary public or some other officer authorized to administer oaths or affirmations. This may be done by having the officer administer the oath to the affiant or by having the affiant affirm to the officer, with the officers consent, the truth of the matters contained in the affidavit. It is also essential that the affiant be identified as to name, residence and, where appropriate or required by law, as to status or capacity. This is ordinarily done in the introductory paragraph to the affidavit.

The following form is a very basic and general form which can be used in most jurisdictions if properly completed.