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Stamp Paper & Legal Documents

How to Make an Affidavit: Format, Stamp Paper and Notarisation

Draft numbered first-person statements with a verification clause, print on stamp paper of your state's value, and sign before a notary.

RM

Written by Rohan Mehta

Published 24 September 2026·6 min read

On this page9 sections
Credsir Stamp Paper & Legal Documents guide cover with a stamp icon

To make an affidavit, write numbered statements of fact in the first person and end with a verification clause. Print it on stamp paper of the value your state charges, then sign it in front of a notary or oath commissioner, who administers the oath and stamps it. A notary can charge at most ₹35 for taking an affidavit.

Key facts

Item Detail
Who can attest A notary (Section 8, Notaries Act, 1952), or a person empowered by the High Court or state government (Section 3, Oaths Act, 1969)
Notary fee cap ₹35 for administering an oath or taking an affidavit (Rule 10, Notaries Rules, 1956)
Stamp duty, central schedule ₹1 (Article 4, Schedule I, Indian Stamp Act, 1899); states set their own rates
Exempt from stamp duty Affidavits filed or used in court, and those made only to receive a pension or charitable allowance (central schedule)
False affidavit Can be prosecuted as false evidence under Section 229, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Step-by-step: draft, stamp, sign, attest

  1. Check what the office asking for the affidavit wants. Many forms now accept a signed self-declaration, and some give their own affidavit format.
  2. Draft the text using the format below. Keep one fact per numbered paragraph.
  3. Buy stamp paper or an e-stamp certificate of the value your state charges for an affidavit. Put the deponent’s name on it as the purchaser.
  4. Print the affidavit on the stamp paper. If it runs over, continue on plain paper and sign every page.
  5. Take the unsigned affidavit, your original photo ID and a photocopy to a notary or oath commissioner.
  6. Sign in front of the notary. The notary administers the oath, signs, applies the official seal and enters the act in the notarial register.
  7. Pay the fee and ask for a receipt. Rule 11(9) of the Notaries Rules requires every notary to give one.

Affidavit format: each part explained

ItemDetails
Heading“AFFIDAVIT”, plus the purpose if the office wants it, such as “Affidavit for change of address”. A court affidavit starts with the case title and number.
Deponent’s details“I, [full name], son/daughter/wife of [name], aged [age] years, residing at [full address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:”
Numbered statements“1. That I am a citizen of India and the deponent herein.” Each paragraph conventionally starts with “That”. State facts you know personally. Avoid opinions and arguments.
Deponent’s signaturesigned as “DEPONENT” below the statements.
Verification“Verified at [place] on [date] that the contents of the above affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and nothing material has been concealed therefrom.” The deponent signs again below it.
Attestationthe notary’s signature, seal and register entry number.

A self affidavit sample for a simple declaration needs only three or four numbered paragraphs. Keep names, dates of birth and addresses exactly as they appear on your ID. A mismatch is the commonest reason an office sends an affidavit back.

Stamp paper value and when plain paper works

The central Schedule I sets ₹1 for an affidavit, but most states have their own stamp laws and charge more. Rates listed on the SHCIL e-stamp portal for three states:

State Stamp duty on an affidavit
Uttar Pradesh ₹10
Gujarat ₹50
Karnataka ₹100

Other states charge different amounts, so check your state’s stamp schedule or ask the vendor. Our stamp duty by state page covers property rates, and the stamp duty calculator works out duty on a sale.

Under the central schedule, an affidavit filed or used in court needs no stamp duty. Neither does one made only so that someone can receive a pension or charitable allowance. Plain paper also works where a department accepts a self-declaration. If the office has not said which it wants, ask before you pay for stamp paper.

Notary, oath commissioner or magistrate

Who Legal basis Typical use
Notary Section 8(1), Notaries Act, 1952: may administer oaths and take affidavits Most affidavits for banks, schools, government offices and private parties
Oath commissioner Section 3(2), Oaths Act, 1969: empowered by the High Court Affidavits for court cases
Magistrate or other empowered officer Section 3(2), Oaths Act, 1969: empowered by the High Court or state government Where a rule names a magistrate, for example some name and surname changes

A notary’s act counts only if it is done under the notary’s signature and official seal, says Section 8(2). Rule 10 caps a notary’s charges:

  • ₹35 for administering an oath or taking an affidavit
  • ₹35 for attesting the execution of any instrument
  • ₹10 a page, minimum ₹20, for certifying true copies

The total affidavit price you pay is the stamp duty, the notary’s fee and any typing charge. A notary cannot bill more than the Rule 10 cap for the oath itself.

Online and e-stamp affidavits

In states on the SHCIL system, you can buy an e-stamp certificate online through Citizen Login on shcilestamp.com or at an authorised collection centre. Print the affidavit on or with the certificate, then sign it before a notary as usual. Anyone can check the certificate through Verify e-Stamp on the same site. Websites that offer to “apply for affidavit online” still arrange the stamp and a notary for you, so confirm which notary will attest and what they charge.

Mistakes that get affidavits rejected

  • Stamp paper of the wrong value, or bought in someone else’s name.
  • Names, spellings or addresses that differ from the ID you submit.
  • Signing at home before meeting the notary.
  • A missing verification clause, date or place.
  • No notary seal or register number.
  • Statements of belief or hearsay presented as facts.
  • Using an old affidavit when the office wants a recent one.

Swear only what is true. A false statement in an affidavit can lead to prosecution under Section 229 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The punishment is up to seven years in a judicial proceeding and up to three years in other cases. For court affidavits or anything tied to property, a lawyer can draft the text.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct format for an affidavit?

A heading, the deponent’s name, parentage, age and address, numbered first-person statements, the deponent’s signature, a dated verification clause, and the notary’s seal and signature.

How much does a notarised affidavit cost?

Stamp duty for your state plus the notary’s fee, which Rule 10 of the Notaries Rules caps at ₹35 for taking an affidavit. Typing charges are extra.

Can an affidavit be made on plain paper?

Yes, where no stamp duty applies, such as an affidavit filed in court under the central schedule, or where the office accepts a self-declaration. Otherwise use stamp paper of your state’s value.

Affidavit kaise banta hai?

Apne bayan numbered paragraphs mein likhiye, neeche verification clause jodiye, state ki value wale stamp paper par print kariye, aur notary ke saamne sign karke unki seal lagwaiye.

Can I make an affidavit online?

You can buy an e-stamp online in SHCIL states, but the oath still has to be administered by a notary or empowered officer.

Who can attest an affidavit in India?

A notary under Section 8 of the Notaries Act, 1952, or a court, magistrate or person empowered by the High Court or state government under Section 3 of the Oaths Act, 1969.

Does an affidavit expire?

No law sets a general validity period. Many offices ask for a recently dated affidavit, so check their instructions.

Sources

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