Making important legal documents

Statutory declarations

This guide explains how to make a statutory declaration, including what to include in it and how to declare and sign it.

What is a statutory declaration?

A statutory declaration is a written statement that is declared to be true and correct in the presence of an authorised witness.

Statutory declarations are used in many settings. They are mainly used in dealings with organisations (government and non-government). For example, an insurer can verify information by statutory declaration.

Sometimes they can be used as evidence in a court or tribunal proceeding.

Knowingly making a false statement in a statutory declaration can be a criminal offence.

Declarations

When a person makes a declaration, they are declaring that the contents of the statutory declaration are either:

  • true
  • true to the best of their knowledge, where the contents are stated on the basis of information and belief.

A person making a statutory declaration is called a signatory or declarant.

Statutory declarations

In this guide

  1. Download a statutory declaration form
  2. A witness for a statutory declaration
  3. Information a statutory declaration must include
  4. Making a statutory declaration
  5. Declaring a statutory declaration
  6. Signing a statutory declaration
  7. After a statutory declaration is made

Print entire guide

Legislation changes

The law has changed and you can now execute and witness statutory declarations and affidavits electronically. These changes were made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about the legislative amendments in the:

Read our fact sheets for more information, including the History of legislative reforms fact sheet.

Contacts

For more information on how to make a statutory declaration—or if you have concerns about your own or someone else’s safety (e.g. due to domestic, family or sexual violence)—contact:

Last updated:
3 February 2025