Rule 72 Declarations Made Under Penalty of Perjury

If a court rule says you need an affidavit or a sworn statement, you have another option. You can file a written declaration instead, as long as you sign it and say you're making it under penalty of perjury. This means you don't have to go find a notary to swear to your statement in person.

To use this option, your written statement needs to include specific wording. You must say something like "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct," along with the date and your signature. You can use the words "declare," "certify," "verify," or "state," but the key part is that you're acknowledging you could be charged with perjury if you're lying.

This rule makes it easier and faster to file documents with the court. Instead of scheduling time with a notary public to get a document notarized, you can simply write out this statement, sign it, and submit it. The legal effect is the same as a sworn affidavit, but the process is simpler.