General Affidavit (Sworn Statement)
A page of facts, in order, signed under oath. Simple to describe, surprisingly easy to get rejected.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a non-attorney document preparation service and cannot provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Read full disclaimer
Quick Answer
A general affidavit is a sworn written statement used when an agency, employer, insurer, school, bank, or court wants a fact put in writing by someone who knows it firsthand. It identifies the person making it, explains how they know the facts, states those facts in numbered paragraphs, and is signed in front of a notary with valid photo identification. A strong affidavit stays factual — dates, amounts, addresses, and events, not conclusions or arguments. Anything you cannot honestly swear to does not belong in it. Clear Path prepares the statement from the facts you provide and notarizes it at the same appointment, in office or mobile. Every matter is reviewed first and quoted in writing; nothing is purchased online.
Who qualifies for this service?
This document preparation service is a fit for Michigan residents who match the criteria below. If your situation is different, contact us and we'll tell you whether we can help or whether you should speak with an attorney.
- Anyone told to provide 'a notarized statement'
- Insurance claims requiring a written account of what happened
- Employment, income, or work-history verification statements
- Statements about a relationship, a residence, or a shared household
- Corrections to records where a fact needs to be established
- Statements supporting an application to an agency or consulate
- People who need a clean written record before memories fade
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Tell us what's needed
Who asked for it, what they said they need, and the facts you can personally attest to.
We review
We confirm a general affidavit is the right instrument and not a required court form.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee including notarization at signing. Nothing is purchased online.
Drafting
We turn your account into numbered, factual paragraphs with proper Michigan notarial wording.
Your review
You read it line by line and correct anything inaccurate before signing.
Notarized signing
Bring photo ID, take the oath, sign with us. Same-day where scheduling allows.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- Valid, unexpired government photo ID for each signer
- Any written instructions from the party requesting the affidavit
- Dates, names, addresses, and amounts relevant to the facts
- Documents you want attached as exhibits
- Case number and court, if it relates to a pending matter
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Writing a story or an argument instead of numbered facts.
- Including things the signer heard secondhand without saying so.
- No basis-of-knowledge statement, so the reader cannot tell why the signer would know.
- Signing at home before coming to the notary.
- Expired or missing photo ID at the signing.
- Guessing at dates and amounts rather than saying 'on or about.'
- Using a general affidavit when the court required a specific SCAO form.
Local Michigan considerations
Michigan notaries act under the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts. The signer must personally appear, be identified, and sign in the notary's presence, and the notary administers the oath or affirmation. The notary does not confirm that the facts are true — that responsibility sits with the person swearing to them, and a knowingly false statement under oath carries criminal exposure. Michigan courts often require a specific SCAO form rather than a free-form affidavit, so we check the court's requirement before drafting anything intended for a court file.
Key Terms
- Sworn statement
- A written statement made under oath or affirmation before an authorized officer.
- Affirmation
- A solemn declaration of truth used in place of a religious oath, with the same legal effect.
- Jurat
- The notary's certificate showing the signer appeared, was identified, swore to the contents, and signed.
- Basis of knowledge
- The explanation of how the affiant knows the facts they are swearing to.
People Also Ask
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Ready to get your paperwork started?
Start the guided intake, or call or text us — we review every matter before quoting a price, and nothing is purchased online.