General Affidavit (Ontario)

A general affidavit — also called a sworn affidavit or sworn statement of facts — is a written, first-person account that the person making it (the deponent) swears or affirms to be true. It carries the same weight as evidence given under oath, which is why courts, tribunals, banks, insurers, and government offices rely on it.

Unlike a statutory declaration, which is "solemnly declared", an affidavit is sworn on oath or affirmed. Both are commissioned the same way in Ontario, and this template can be adapted for either.

A general affidavit is the flexible option for the many situations that do not have their own prescribed form. People use it to put facts on the record for a wide range of requests.

These terms overlap and are often searched interchangeably. An affidavit is sworn or affirmed on oath; a statutory declaration is "solemnly declared" and is common for administrative and government purposes; a sworn statement is the everyday term for either. In Ontario, a notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits can commission all of them.

If you are unsure which you need, a general affidavit is a safe, widely accepted choice, and the wording can be adjusted to swear or to affirm.

Set out each fact as its own short, numbered paragraph, in plain language and in the order events happened. Stick to what you personally know to be true.

Where a fact is based on what someone told you rather than your own knowledge, say so by stating it is on "information and belief". If you refer to a document, it can be attached as a numbered exhibit and marked by the commissioner when you swear the affidavit.

Once you have filled in your general affidavit and downloaded the PDF, do not sign it yet. An affidavit or statutory declaration must be signed in the presence of a notary public or a commissioner for taking affidavits, who administers your oath or solemn affirmation before you sign.

Minute Notary commissions your general affidavit either online by secure video, under Ontario's remote commissioning rules (O. Reg. 431/20), or in person in Ottawa. Bring valid government-issued photo identification so we can confirm who you are before we apply the notary seal.