How to write an affidavit in Ontario: find the right form, number your facts, name your sources, refer to your exhibits and leave the jurat blank. Includes a full sample and sample Form 14A paragraphs.
Last updated: November 6, 2026
How to Write an Affidavit in Ontario (With a Sample)
Quick answer: To write an affidavit in Ontario, use the form the court or office requires, then state your facts in the first person in short numbered paragraphs. Name anyone who told you a fact you did not see yourself, refer to each exhibit by letter, and leave the signature and jurat blank until you swear it. Minute Notary commissions the finished affidavit from $24.95 per seal plus HST, by video or in person, but does not write it for you. A full sample is below.
Someone has asked you for an affidavit and you are looking at a blank page. This guide shows you how to write an affidavit in Ontario, from that page to a document that is ready to swear, using the wording in Ontario's court rules and forms. If you first want to know what an affidavit is, read what an affidavit is and come back.
This is general information, not legal advice. If the affidavit is for a contested court case, the choice of facts is a legal judgment, so have a lawyer or licensed paralegal write or review it.
Key Takeaways
The affidavit format in Ontario comes from the court rules and the forms themselves.
| Part of the affidavit | What to do | Rule or source |
|---|---|---|
| The form | Use the court's or office's form; otherwise a general affidavit | Rules of Civil Procedure r. 4.06(1)(a); the court forms |
| Your details | Full name, where you live, and your role in a court case | r. 4.06(1)(c); Forms 4D and 14A |
| The facts | First person, numbered paragraphs, one fact to a paragraph | r. 4.06(1)(b) and (d) |
| What you were told | Name the person and say you believe it, where the rules allow it | r. 39.01(4) and (5); Family Law Rules r. 14(19) |
| Exhibits | Refer to each by letter; the person taking the affidavit marks it | r. 4.06(3) |
| Signature and jurat | Leave both blank until the appointment | Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act s. 9(3); Ministry guide |
How to Write an Affidavit in Ontario, Step by Step
1. Find the right form
Find out who will read the affidavit before you write a word. If a court or office has its own form, use it, and follow its instructions over anything general you read here.
| Where it is going | What to use |
|---|---|
| Ontario family court | Form 14A, Affidavit (General) for most steps. Some steps have their own form, such as Form 35.1 for parenting claims. Our Form 14A guide has more. |
| A civil case in Superior Court | Form 4D, required by rule 4.06(1)(a) |
| Small Claims Court | Form 15B, Affidavit; see our Small Claims affidavit guide |
| Federal Court | Form 80A, required by rule 80(1) of the Federal Courts Rules |
| A ServiceOntario transaction | ServiceOntario's General Form Affidavit (002-5352) |
| An office with no form of its own | A general affidavit: start from the sample below or our free General Affidavit (Ontario) template |
Download the court form fresh each time, because the courts revise them. If the instructions only say "a sworn statement", ask whether that means an affidavit or a statutory declaration. Our guide explains the difference.
2. Write the heading and title
For court, copy the court name, the file number and the parties' names exactly as they appear on the documents already in your case. Form 4D then needs the title "Affidavit of" and your name. Form 14A has boxes for the court, the court office address, the file number and each party's name and address.
Outside court, rule 4.06 does not apply, because it covers affidavits used in a court proceeding. Follow the receiving office's instructions. If it has none, start with the title "Affidavit of" and your full name.
3. Say who you are
In a court case, rule 4.06(1)(c) requires your full name and, if you are a party or the lawyer, officer, director, member or employee of a party, that fact. The form gives you the words.
FORM 4D
I, [full name], of the City of
[___], in the [County or Region]
of [___], [your role, if you have
one in the case],
MAKE OATH AND SAY (or AFFIRM):
FORM 14A
My name is [full legal name]
I live in [municipality and
province]
and I swear/affirm that the
following is true:
You can swear or affirm: keep the words that match the one you will do. A role can be as short as "I am the applicant" or "I am the office manager of the respondent company".
4. State the facts in numbered paragraphs
Rule 4.06(1) asks for an affidavit in the first person, divided into consecutively numbered paragraphs, each confined as far as possible to one statement of fact. Form 14A goes further: where possible, each paragraph should be one complete sentence.
In practice, tell it in date order, with exact dates, places and amounts. Say what you saw, did, sent or received. A reader should be able to check every line.
| Instead of | Write | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "My ex is irresponsible and never shows up." | "On October 3, 2026, Sam Example did not pick up our daughter at 5:00 p.m., the time set in our parenting schedule." | A fact, not an opinion |
| "I paid them back a while ago." | "On June 12, 2026, I sent Jo Example $1,200 by e-transfer." Then, as the next paragraph: "Attached as Exhibit A is the confirmation." | A date, an amount and the proof |
| "Everyone knows the landlord refused to fix it." | "On May 4, 2026, my neighbour, Lee Example, told me the landlord had refused to fix the heater, and I believe this is true." | Names the source and states your belief |
| "The court should give me more parenting time." | Leave it out. | That is argument, not evidence |
5. Separate what you know from what you were told
An affidavit used in a civil case is confined to facts you personally know, or other evidence you could give as a witness in court, unless the rules say otherwise (rule 4.06(2)). The exceptions come with conditions:
- On a civil motion, you may include what you were told if you specify the source and say you believe it (rule 39.01(4)).
- On a civil application, the same applies, but only for facts that are not contentious (rule 39.01(5)).
- On a family court motion, stick to what you know as much as possible (rule 14(18)). Information from someone else needs the source's name and a statement that you believe it (rule 14(19)), and on a contempt motion it must also be unlikely to be disputed.
- In Small Claims Court, Form 15B likewise says to give the person's name and state that you believe the fact to be true.
Outside court, the same habit makes your statement easier to rely on. If someone else saw what happened, that person can swear an affidavit of their own.
6. Refer to your exhibits by letter
An exhibit is a document your affidavit points to. Refer to it in a paragraph, then put the copies in the same order:
4. Attached as Exhibit A is a copy
of my lease dated February 15,
2025.
Leave the copies unmarked. Rule 4.06(3) says an exhibit "shall be marked as such by the person taking the affidavit", and the Ministry of the Attorney General's guide says one common way is to write, on the first page of the exhibit or on a cover page, "This is exhibit 'A' referred to in the affidavit of…". Attach only the pages that prove your point.
7. Leave the signature and the jurat blank
The jurat is the block at the foot of the affidavit that records when, where and before whom you swore it. The commissioner completes it, and you sign at the appointment. Section 9(3) of the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act requires the person giving the oath to be satisfied that your signature is genuine, and Form 14A says it "is to be signed in front of a lawyer, justice of the peace, notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits".
On a video appointment the wording changes. O. Reg. 431/20 requires a modified jurat that says the oath was given under that regulation and states where you and the commissioner each were. Form 4D already prints this version. Form 14A's printed jurat dates from 2005, so the commissioner adapts it.
Two details from the forms themselves: Form 14A says to put a line through any blank space on the page, and Form 15B says to attach and initial extra pages if you need more room.
8. Read every line before you book
You will swear that every line is true. Knowingly making a false statement in an affidavit, with intent to mislead, can be perjury under section 131 of the Criminal Code; our guide covers what follows. Fix anything inaccurate now and print a clean copy. In a civil case, any change on the printed page must be initialled by the person taking the affidavit, or it cannot be used without the permission of the presiding judge or officer (rule 4.06(9)).
Sample Affidavit (Ontario) for Use Outside Court
Here is a complete sample of a general affidavit. The people, addresses and company are invented. It shows the shape of the document, and your facts and form may be different. Where it says "(or AFFIRM)", keep the words that match what you will do.
AFFIDAVIT OF ALEX SAMPLE
I, Alex Sample, of the City of
Ottawa, in the Province of
Ontario,
MAKE OATH AND SAY (or AFFIRM):
1. I make this affidavit to
confirm my home address for
Example Insurance Company,
which asked me for it.
2. I have lived at 100 Example
Street, Ottawa, Ontario, since
March 1, 2025.
3. I rent this home from Robin
Example under a written lease
dated February 15, 2025.
4. Attached as Exhibit A is a copy
of the lease.
5. Attached as Exhibit B is a copy
of my hydro bill dated October
1, 2026, which was sent to me
at this address.
6. Robin Example told me on
October 20, 2026 that my lease
has renewed for another year,
and I believe this to be true.
SWORN (or AFFIRMED) before me in
person at the City of Ottawa, in
the Province of Ontario, on
[date].
______________________________
Commissioner for Taking Affidavits
______________________________
Alex Sample
What each part does. Paragraph 1 says why the affidavit exists, and paragraphs 2 and 3 are facts Alex knows personally. Paragraphs 4 and 5 point to exhibits by letter, while paragraph 6 is something Alex was told, so it names the source and states the belief.
If it is sworn by video, the commissioner uses a jurat like this one, based on Form 4D, for when you and the commissioner are in different cities:
SWORN (or AFFIRMED) before me by
video conference by Alex Sample of
the City of Kingston, in the
Province of Ontario, before me at
the City of Ottawa, in the
Province of Ontario, on [date], in
accordance with O. Reg. 431/20,
Administering Oath or Declaration
Remotely.
To fill this in on screen rather than from scratch, use our free affidavit template for Ontario, the General Affidavit (Ontario).
Sample Form 14A Paragraphs for Family Court
Form 14A has its own opening and boxes, so you only write the numbered paragraphs. These are invented too. In a real case, what you include is a legal judgment, so get advice.
1. I am the applicant.
2. Sam Example is the respondent
and the other parent of our
daughter.
3. Our daughter lives with me from
Monday to Friday.
4. Attached as Exhibit A is a copy
of our parenting schedule dated
May 1, 2026.
5. On October 3, 2026, Sam Example
did not pick up our daughter at
5:00 p.m., the time set in the
schedule.
6. At 6:15 p.m. that day, I sent
Sam Example a text message
asking whether there was a
problem.
7. Attached as Exhibit B is a copy
of that message.
8. Jo Example, our daughter's
babysitter, told me on October
4, 2026 that Sam Example also
missed the pickup on September
26, 2026, and I believe this to
be true.
Each paragraph is one sentence, the source in paragraph 8 is named, and nothing tells the judge what to decide. Our free Form 14A template lets you fill in the form on screen, and the Form 14A guide covers page limits and filing.
A Checklist Before You Swear
Go through this once the draft is finished.
- It is the current version of the form the court or office asked for.
- The heading matches your case exactly, if it is for court.
- Your full name, where you live and your role are stated.
- Every paragraph is numbered and written as "I".
- Each paragraph holds one fact, with dates and amounts where you have them.
- Anything you were told names the source and says you believe it.
- Each exhibit is referred to by letter, and the copies are in that order and unmarked.
- The signature line and the jurat are blank.
- You have read every line and can swear it is true.
Who Can Help With the Wording
A commissioner can take your affidavit but cannot tell you what it should say. The Ministry's guide says a commissioner is "not authorized to act or present yourself as a lawyer or paralegal or provide legal advice", and must recommend independent advice if you ask for it.
- A lawyer or licensed paralegal can prepare or review the affidavit. Paralegals can act in some matters and not others, and the Law Society of Ontario sets those limits. See notary vs lawyer in Ontario.
- A Family Law Information Centre is a free service with court forms, information about court processes and duty counsel. Its information and referral coordinators do not give legal advice, so ask what duty counsel can do for you.
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public can confirm your identity, give the oath or affirmation, watch you sign, mark your exhibits and complete the jurat. A notary does not write your affidavit, choose your facts, check that they are true, or tell you whether the affidavit helps your case.
How to Get It Commissioned with Minute Notary
Minute Notary commissions affidavits by secure video from anywhere in Ontario, or in person on a mobile visit.
- Contact us or call (613) 434-5555 and tell us what the affidavit is and where it is going. Our affidavits page has the details.
- Check that the receiver accepts a video affidavit. The Ministry's guide notes that nothing obliges a party or organization to accept a remotely commissioned document. If it is unsure, choose an in-person visit.
- Have it ready, unsigned, with your exhibits in order and your government photo ID.
- At the appointment, you show your ID, swear or affirm, and sign while the notary watches.
- The notary marks the exhibits and completes the jurat.
If the affidavit is going outside Canada, tell us before you book. Ontario's Official Documents Services does not process commissioned documents or anything notarized remotely, so an affidavit that needs an apostille has to be done on paper, in person, before a notary public. See apostille and authentication.
Pricing
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioning an affidavit online | $24.95 per seal | One seal for each person who swears it |
| Exhibits, online: 1st to 5th | $24.95 each | Each exhibit is marked, endorsed and sealed |
| Exhibits, online: 6th to 10th | $20 each | Exhibit volume pricing |
| Exhibits, online: 11th onward | $15 each | Exhibit volume pricing |
| Mobile visit, in person | $24.95 per seal + $60 travel fee | Travel fee covers up to 30 km; beyond that, an additional fee. Exhibits $24.95 each |
| Card processing fee (online payments) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Shown as its own line before you pay |
Note: prices are before HST. Example: the sample affidavit above, with two exhibits, commissioned online, is 3 seals: $74.85 plus HST and the card fee.
See every posted rate on our pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write an affidavit in Ontario?
Use the form the court or office requires, or a general affidavit if it has none. Give your full name, where you live and your role in the matter. State the facts in the first person, in numbered paragraphs, one fact to a paragraph. Name anyone who told you a fact you did not see yourself, refer to each exhibit by letter, and leave the signature and jurat blank until you swear or affirm it before a commissioner.
Can I write my own affidavit without a lawyer?
Yes. You can start from the sample in this guide or a free template, and you only need a commissioner to swear it. Ask a lawyer or licensed paralegal to prepare or review it if the case is contested or you are not sure which facts matter.
Is there a sample affidavit or template for Ontario?
Yes. This guide has a full sample and sample Form 14A paragraphs. Minute Notary also has free fill-in templates for a General Affidavit (Ontario) and for Form 14A. Current court forms are on the Ontario Court Services website, and ServiceOntario publishes its own General Form Affidavit for its transactions.
How do I start an affidavit?
Follow your form. Form 4D opens "I, (full name), of the (City) of ..., in the (County or Region) of ..., MAKE OATH AND SAY (or AFFIRM):". Form 14A opens "My name is ... I live in ... and I swear/affirm that the following is true:". If you are a party in a court case, or the lawyer, officer, director, member or employee of a party, say so.
How do I write an affidavit for family court in Ontario?
Most often you use Form 14A, Affidavit (General), though some steps have their own form. Its instructions ask for consecutively numbered paragraphs, each one complete sentence about one fact where possible. If you learned a fact from someone else, give that person's name and say you believe the fact is true. Our Form 14A guide covers page limits and filing.
What should I include in an affidavit?
Your full name, where you live, your role if it is for a court case, the facts in numbered paragraphs, a reference to each exhibit, and a blank signature line and jurat. Use exact dates, places and amounts where you have them.
What should not go in an affidavit?
Leave out opinions, name-calling, legal argument and what you want the court to decide. Leave out anything you do not know yourself, unless the rules allow it and you name the source. In a court case, argument belongs in other documents prepared for the hearing.
Do I sign the affidavit before the appointment?
No. You sign in front of the commissioner, after you swear or affirm. The Ministry of the Attorney General's guide says the affidavit must be signed before the commissioner, and Form 14A says it is to be signed in front of a lawyer, justice of the peace, notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits. Leave the jurat blank too: the commissioner completes it.
How do I add exhibits to an affidavit?
Refer to each document in a paragraph, for example "Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of my lease dated February 15, 2025." Put the copies in the same order and leave them unmarked. In a court case, the person taking the affidavit marks each exhibit under rule 4.06(3).
What if I spot a mistake while writing my affidavit?
Correct the file and print a clean copy rather than writing on the page. In a civil court case, any change on the printed page must be initialled by the person taking the affidavit, or it cannot be used without the presiding judge's or officer's permission (rule 4.06(9)). If it is already sworn, do not edit it: our guide to what an affidavit is covers the next step.
Will a notary write my affidavit for me?
Not at Minute Notary. We confirm your identity, give the oath or affirmation, watch you sign, mark your exhibits and complete the jurat. We do not write the affidavit, choose the facts or give legal advice. A lawyer or licensed paralegal can help with the wording, and for family matters a Family Law Information Centre is a free place to start.
How much does it cost to have an affidavit commissioned?
At Minute Notary, $24.95 per seal plus HST. The person swearing it is one seal and each exhibit is one more. Online, exhibits 6 to 10 are $20 each and exhibits from the 11th on are $15 each, and a card fee of 2.9% + $0.30 applies. A mobile visit adds a $60 travel fee for up to 30 km. The full amount is shown before you pay.
Final Recommendation
Start with the form, not the blank page, and write short, numbered, first-person facts you can swear to. If the case is contested, have a lawyer or licensed paralegal look at it before you swear.
Book Your Appointment
Is your affidavit written and ready to swear? Minute Notary commissions it by secure video from $24.95 per seal plus HST, or in person on a mobile visit.
- Contact us: Ask a question or request an appointment
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Affidavits
- Free templates: General Affidavit (Ontario), Form 14A, Affidavit (General)
- Related guides: What is an affidavit?, Form 14A affidavit, Swearing an affidavit online
- Hours: Every day, Saturday and Sunday included, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Ottawa time)
Sources
- Rules of Civil Procedure, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194 (Ontario), r. 4.06 and r. 39.01
- Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99 (Ontario), r. 14(18) and (19)
- Ontario Court Services: Rules of Civil Procedure forms (Form 4D)
- Ontario Court Services: Form 14A, Affidavit (General), FLR 14A (PDF)
- Ontario Court Services: Form 15B, Affidavit, SCR 15.01-15B (PDF)
- Federal Courts Rules, SOR/98-106, r. 80
- ServiceOntario: General Form Affidavit (002-5352)
- Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.17 (Ontario), s. 9
- O. Reg. 431/20: Administering Oath or Declaration Remotely (Ontario)
- Ministry of the Attorney General: Guide for newly appointed commissioners for taking affidavits in Ontario
- Ministry of the Attorney General: Information for notaries public in Ontario
- Criminal Code, s. 131 (perjury)
- Ontario: Family Law Information Centres
This article was written using AI.
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About the author
Kai Mai
Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer, Minute Notary
Kai Mai writes and edits the Minute Notary guides, working from the published federal and Ontario guidance each article links, and from what Ottawa clients actually run into with certified copies, affidavits, statutory declarations, travel consent letters, and immigration paperwork. These guides are general information written by our editorial team — not legal advice, and not a professional opinion on your document. The receiving authority always has the final say.