Why should affidavits be notarized?
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a Notary Public. The name "affidavit" is Medieval Latin for he has declared upon oath . An affidavit is a type of verified statement or showing, or in other words, it contains a verification, meaning it is under oath or penalty of perjury, and this serves as evidence to its veracity and is required for court proceedings. Not all affidavits require a Notary Public for execution. An affidavit that will be presented as evidence in a court of law should be notarized because the Notary Public verifies the following: that the affiant (person making an affidavit) is who he says he or she is; that the affiant took an oath or affirmed under penalties of perjury that the statements contained in the affid...