Affidavit Drafting and Notary

Before you get an affidavit made

• The person making the statement, called the deponent, must sign in front of the notary and carry original ID. A notary should not attest a document signed somewhere else.
• Check whether the office really needs a notarised affidavit. Many government offices now accept a self-declaration on plain paper, and some passport annexures are self-declarations.
• Affidavits to be filed in a court case usually have to be attested by an oath commissioner or as the court's rules require, not just any notary. Tell us if the affidavit is for a court.
• Everything in the affidavit must be true to your knowledge. Giving a false statement on affidavit is an offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the document can be used against you.
• Where the affidavit will be used in another state or abroad, the receiving office may want a particular stamp value or format, or further attestation such as apostille for foreign use.

What affects the total cost

• Stamp paper: the stamp duty on an affidavit is small, but the amount and the method, such as e-stamp or franking, depend on the state.
• Notary attestation: charged per document. Extra pages and extra copies may cost more.
• Type of affidavit: a standard address or gap year affidavit is simpler than one that must follow a court or university's exact format.
• Number of deponents: joint affidavits, for example by both parents, need everyone present before the notary.
• Delivery or collection: home delivery, or a doorstep notary visit where available, adds a travel cost.

How long it takes

A standard affidavit can usually be drafted, printed and notarised the same day or the next working day. The steps are confirming what the office wants, sharing the draft for approval, buying stamp paper and signing before a notary. Delays happen when the office's required format is not shared at the start, when details such as dates and addresses change after printing, or when all deponents cannot be present together. E-stamp centres and many notaries close on Sundays and public holidays, so plan around them if you have a deadline.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Not asking the receiving office for its format. Universities, banks and embassies often have their own wording, and a generic affidavit gets rejected.
• Buying stamp paper of the wrong state. Stamp duty is a state subject, and the office may question paper bought elsewhere.
• Signing before reaching the notary. The notary needs to see you sign, or at least confirm your identity and signature in person.
• Making broad statements you cannot back up. Keep the affidavit to facts you know, and attach proof where possible.
• Getting a notarised affidavit when a self-declaration would do. Check first and save the trouble.

What you get at the end

You get the original affidavit on stamp paper, signed by you and attested by a notary with seal, signature and register number. Submit it to the office that asked for it, whether a college, passport office, bank, employer or government department. Keep a scanned copy and, if needed, a few notarised photocopies, since offices often keep the original. If it is for use abroad, ask whether apostille or further attestation is needed.

In Delhi NCR

• In Delhi, affidavits are usually printed on e-stamp paper from SHCIL authorised centres, commonly found at district court complexes and in commercial areas.
• Notaries are available at all Delhi district courts, such as Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Saket, Rohini, Dwarka, Patiala House and Rouse Avenue, and in many localities.
• Haryana uses its own e-stamp system for Gurugram and Faridabad, and Uttar Pradesh has its own rules for Noida and Ghaziabad, so the paper should match where the affidavit is made or as the office requires.
• For court affidavits in Delhi, oath commissioners sit at the court complexes and the High Court.
• Outside NCR, the team can guide you online on drafting, but you still need to sign before a notary in your city.