Affidavit Guide India: Format, Stamp Duty & Types Explained (2026)

An affidavit is a written statement of fact, sworn under oath, and signed before a Notary Public, Oath Commissioner, or Magistrate. Once signed and notarized, the deponent (person making the affidavit) can be prosecuted for perjury under Section 193 IPC if the statements are false.

When You Need an Affidavit

• Name change — after marriage, gender change, or personal choice
• Address change — for Aadhaar, voter ID, driving license updates
• Date of birth correction — on school certificates, Aadhaar, passport
• Loss of documents — PAN, driving license, marksheet, vehicle papers
• Income proof — for scholarships, college admissions, government schemes
• Gap year declaration — between studies or jobs
• Self-declaration — for passport, visa, government jobs
• Vehicle sale — seller-buyer declarations
• NOC affidavits — for property, vehicles, business

Every Indian affidavit follows the same legal structure:

1. Stamp paper header — state-specified value (typically INR 10-100)
2. Heading — "AFFIDAVIT" (centered, bold)
3. Deponent details — "I, [Full Name], son/daughter/wife of [Father/Husband Name], aged [Age] years, residing at [Full Address]..."
4. Purpose statement — "...do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:"
5. Body — numbered paragraphs stating facts being affirmed
6. Truth verification clause — "I state that the above statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief, and nothing material has been concealed."
7. Place and date — "Verified at [City] on this [Day] of [Month], [Year]"
8. Deponent's signature — with printed name
9. Notary's attestation — notary's signature, seal, and stamp confirming the deponent signed before them

Affidavit stamp paper value varies by Indian state and purpose. Most general affidavits require INR 10-100 stamp paper.

Check the current stamp duty with your state's stamp paper vendor before printing. E-stamp papers are now available in most states via SHCIL (shcilestamp.com).

1. Buy the correct stamp paper — state-specific value, bought from a licensed vendor or SHCIL e-stamp portal
2. Draft the affidavit — on the stamp paper (printed or handwritten; printed is more acceptable)
3. Take to Notary Public — also called Oath Commissioner. Found near every court complex and sub-registrar office.
4. Provide ID proof — original Aadhaar, PAN, or passport. Notary verifies your identity matches the deponent name.
5. Sign in presence of notary — you must sign the affidavit in front of the notary. Pre-signed affidavits are refused.
6. Notary attests — notary signs, stamps, and enters the affidavit in their register with a serial number.
7. Pay notary fee — typically INR 50-200. Fees are regulated by state notarial rules.

AFFIDAVIT

I, [Current Legal Name], son/daughter/wife of
[Father/Husband Name], aged ___ years, permanent resident
of [Full Address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare
as under:

1. That my name in all official records is
   "[Current Name]".

2. That I have changed my name from "[Current Name]"
   to "[New Name]" for [reason: marriage / personal /
   religious / numerological].

3. That henceforth I shall be known and called by the
   name "[New Name]" for all purposes.

4. That this affidavit is required for updating my
   name in [Aadhaar / PAN / passport / bank accounts /
   educational records / etc.].

5. That the statements made above are true and correct
   to the best of my knowledge and belief, and nothing
   material has been concealed.

Verified at [City] on this ___ day of ______, 20__.

                                    [Signature]
                                    DEPONENT
                                    [Printed Name]

Supporting steps: after notarizing, publish in 2 newspapers (one regional, one national) and then gazette notification via state/central Government Gazette. This 3-step process is required to legally change your name in all official records.

• Wrong stamp paper value — under-valued stamp paper is rejected; pay the state-specified amount
• Missing "solemnly affirm" — the phrase is mandatory under Oaths Act
• Pre-signed before notary — notary must witness the signature; refused if already signed
• Incorrect name/address mismatch with ID — if Aadhaar shows "Raj Kumar" but affidavit says "Rajkumar", it may be rejected
• Missing verification clause — the "I state the above is true..." line is legally required
• Notary seal missing or illegible — check before leaving the notary's office
• Date inconsistency — stamp paper date, affidavit date, and notary date should be in correct sequence
• Photocopy instead of original — most receiving offices require the original with physical notary seal