How to write an affidavit

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When filling out your applications for boards you are required to answer a series of questions about your background. If you answer yes to any of these questions the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners requires a notarized, written explanation of the offense called an affidavit. 

Remember this is a LEGAL document and is considered SWORN TESTIMONY, so it is of the utmost importance that you are truthful in all of your statements made in the affidavit.

First, you’ll need to title your affidavit. The title of your affidavit just needs to tell the person reading it what your sworn statement is going to be about. Include both your name and the topic of the affidavit.

Here’s an example of what that might look like:

AFFIDAVIT OF RESIDENCE
AFFIDAVIT OF JANE DOE

The very next section of your affidavit is what’s known as a statement of identity. This is where you’ll include your personal information including your name, age, occupation, place of residence, and any other information relevant to the situation or case.

Here’s an example of what that might look like:

My name is Jane Smith. I am 40 years old, I work as a bank teller, and I currently reside at 140 Maple Lane, Huntsville, Alabama.

This section is used to preface who you are in relation to the facts you’re about to outline. You don’t have to include your life story, but you do need to include any relevant information to the claims you’re making.

This section of your affidavit is used to swear that your telling of the facts is accurate to the best of your knowledge. A statement of truth is the equivalent of swearing under oath in a courtroom.

Here’s an example of what that might look like:

I, Jane Smith, swear that the information in my sworn statement is truthful to the best of my knowledge and understanding.

Your statement of truth must be in the first person and you need to identify yourself in it. Keep it short and sweet. You’re just acknowledging that you agree not to lie in your affidavit.

Once you have all of that out of the way, it’s time to state the facts. This section of the affidavit will likely be the longest. There is no certain length this section should be, it’s just important that it includes all the accurate information. Here are some tips you can use to complete this section:

1. Stick to the facts

Avoid injecting your personal opinion or observations into your affidavit. This isn’t the time for you to flex your storytelling skills. You need to keep the facts objective, clear, and concise.

For example, if you’re writing that you saw the accused near the scene of a crime, you would say:

I saw John Doe at 145 Maple Lane around 3 p.m. on the day of the crime.

You would not say:

I saw John Doe fleeing the scene of the crime on the afternoon Mrs. Jones was murdered. He looked nervous and guilty, like he’d done something wrong.

Your only job is to state the facts as you best remember them. Leave the interpretations to the lawyers. When you state these facts you’ll need to provide details such as names, dates, times, and addresses.

2. Outline your facts clearly

Create an outline of everything you remember about the situation and then determine which facts are relevant to your affidavit. Then, arrange them in a coherent manner. One of the best ways to arrange the facts about a situation is in chronological order.

For example, here’s how you might structure a statement:

1. You saw John Doe at 145 Maple Lane around 3 p.m. on the day of the crime.

2. Your neighbor called the police around 3:45 p.m. after discovering the body of Mrs. Jones

3. Police arrived and questioned everyone around 4:47 p.m. that same day

4. When questioned by the police, you told them about a disagreement John Doe and Mrs. Jones had the day before at the neighborhood picnic

Each fact should be its own separate paragraph and you should reference any supporting documents as exhibits within the corresponding paragraph. Number the paragraphs so that it’s easy for the reader to follow.

Once you’ve recounted all the facts, you’ll close everything out with another statement of truth.All you need to include is a quick summary that everything you've outlined above is true to the best of your knowledge.

Here’s what that might look like:

I, Jane Smith, once again swear that the information in my sworn statement above is a complete representation of the facts to the best of my knowledge.

This section doesn’t need to be longer than a few sentences. You can tweak the language a bit, but for the most part, you’ll want to keep it pretty similar to your statement of truth at the beginning of the affidavit.

The final step in completing your affidavit is signing it and having it notarized. You can complete most of your affidavit before having it notarized and witnessed, but don’t sign it until you’re in the presence of a licensed witness or notary. This part must be completed in the presence of a witness.

You’ll be doing more than signing on a single dotted line. You and the notary will need to sign:

• Any changes or alterations made to the affidavit at the time of notarizing
• Each page of the affidavit
• The affidavit itself

If you’ve included exhibits in your affidavit, the notary will need to review and sign those as well. Be sure to bring any related documents to your meeting with the notary. Otherwise, you’ll have to come back and redo the entire process.

In order to have something notarized, you will need a form of official identification, such as a passport or a driver's license, proving that you are who you claim to be. 

** For more information on finding a notary in your area click here.**

And that's it! It's a wrap. Include the affidavit in the envelope with your application to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and sit back and take it easy until you hear back from them.