What is an Affiant?

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OneNotary Team

May 1, 2021

Notarize a Document in the US

If you have ever watched crime shows on TV, there is a good chance that you have come across words that you are not familiar with. One word that you may have heard a lot is “affiant.” This is something that is commonly used in a courtroom setting. Therefore, an affiant is an important figure in just about any legal case. So, what is an affiant? There are several important points to keep in mind.

What Does Affiant Mean in Legal Terms?

An affidavit is a written statement that is used as evidence in a court of law. In order for an affidavit to be admissible in a legal setting, it has to be notarized appropriately by a notary public. An affiant is someone who files an affidavit. Therefore, when looking at an affidavit, there should be a clear line that indicates who is filing the affidavit. If you are wondering, “who is the affiant on an affidavit,” the name of the affiant and signature of the affiant should be printed clearly. As a result, it is important for everyone to understand the difference between an affidavit and an affiant.

When an Affiant Is Needed

There are numerous situations where an affiant could be needed. The most common situation takes place regarding evidence in a court of law. In some cases, this could be a criminal case. If there is evidence that has to be admitted, and that evidence requires a witness, it could be possible that an affiant has to file an affidavit before that evidence can be included. Furthermore, there are also situations where an affidavit could be required in a civil case as well. In this case, an affiant will have to file the affidavit appropriately.

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Even though these terms are most commonly used in a courtroom setting, there are other situations where affidavit and affiant might be used. For example, an affidavit might be required to complete certain transactions outside of a courtroom. Someone who would like to gift a car or a house to someone might be required to file an affidavit before that transaction can be completed. It is critical for everyone to understand what the rules and regulations are before they decide to go through this process.

Who Can Be an Affiant?

Ultimately, just about anyone can be an affiant. In general, anyone who is trying to file an affidavit can be an affiant. It is the role of the notary public to ensure the validity of the signature. That signature also has to be applied voluntarily and without any type of coercion or foul play. Before an affidavit can be accepted in a court of law, a notary public has to make sure that the affiant has granted his or her signature on the page of his or her own volition.

There are certain situations where someone under the age of 18 might be restricted from filing certain types of affidavits. In this situation, it is better to work with a trained legal professional who can explain the process of filing an affidavit if a minor is involved. If an affidavit is going to be used in a court of law, it is critical for everyone to understand what they need to do before that affidavit can be accepted. A notary public might be able to help someone walk through this process. After the affidavit has been notarized appropriately, it might be used in legal proceedings.

How To Notarize Something with OneNotary

For those who need something notarized, including an affidavit, it might be easier to work with an online notary, such as OneNotary. In order to notarize something using OneNotary, there are several steps involved. These include:

  • First, take a look at the available time slots and select one.
  • Then, take a look at the email inbox for the confirmation email.
  • There should be a link to upload documents to the appointment time slot.
  • Prior to the time of the appointment, answer a few questions to confirm your identity.
  • Then, when the meeting begins, the online notary should walk you through the process of getting your document notarized.
  • Once everything has been completed, you can simply download your notarized documents for your review.

Notarization process

You might even be interested in becoming an online notary. There are numerous benefits to becoming an online notary public. These include:

  • You can work when you want to from the comfort of your home.
  • If you are able to notarize documents online, you can meet with fewer clients while also reducing your overhead expenses.
  • There are numerous industries that will require notaries regularly, which could boost your ability to find a job.
  • Notarizing documents is going to become the industry standard because it is faster and more convenient.

If you decide to use OneNotary, you will have access to a comprehensive set of tools that can help you get the most out of your position as an online notary public.

Understand What an Affiant Is and Use an Online Notary

Ultimately, if you need to file an affidavit, you would be considered an affiant. Keep in mind that before your affidavit can be accepted, you may need to get it notarized. Even though you have multiple options available when it comes to notarizing your documents, you may want to use an online notary instead. This process could be faster, less expensive, and more convenient.