Art. 385 Affidavit

Think of an affidavit as a written statement that accuses someone of committing a crime. The person making the accusation, called the affiant, has to sign it and swear that it's true.

This document can't just be filed anywhere. It has to be turned in either in open court or at the clerk's office, and it has to be a court that actually has the authority to try that type of crime. If it's filed somewhere without that authority, it doesn't count.