Making a statutory declaration

Download and fill out the form

South Australian statutory declaration form (124KB PDF)

Fill in the details but do not sign it. You must sign your statutory declaration in front of an authorised witness.

Attached documents must match what is written in your statutory declaration. For example, if you refer to 'Annexure A', you must label that document as 'Annexure A' and attach it to the statutory declaration.

Find an authorised witness

Authorised witness include:

• justices of the peace (JPs)
• police officers
• court registrars
• bank managers
• medical practitioners
• accountants.

Visit the Attorney-General's Department website for a full list of authorised witnesses.

Authorised witnesses do not have to accept your request to witness a statutory declaration.

Organisations who employ people authorised to witness a statutory declaration may not offer this service as an organisation.

Meet your witness and provide photo ID

Confirm beforehand the time and place the authorised witness is available. This might be in person or online.

If you are completing your declaration online, consider:

• how you will meet online, eg - through Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Facetime
• how you will send documents to each other, eg - through email or other online document sharing platform
• whether you will use a scanned copy or an electronic copy of the statutory declaration.

Your authorised witness will need to see your photo identification, eg - drivers licence or passport, to confirm that you are the person named on the statutory declaration form, ie the 'declarant'.

Sign and initial each page

When you and the authorised witness are together, you need to:

• sign or initial each page of the declaration, and number each page if not already numbered
• sign or initial, and date, any alteration to the statutory declaration.

If you are meeting online, your authorised witness will need to be able to see you sign your documents.

The statutory declaration must be fully completed. Any blank space left in the section setting out the matter being declared must be crossed through with a ‘Z’. This is to prevent information being added after it has been witnessed.

Both you and the authorised witness must initial and date the start and the end of the ‘Z’.

Say the declaration out loud

You must say, I solemnly and sincerely declare, in front of the authorised witness. The authorised witness will prompt you.

Answer questions asked by the authorised witness. These will usually be about how you prepared the declaration and what you understand about its contents.

If you are meeting online, your authorised witness will need to be able to hear you while answering questions and saying the declaration.

Witness signs the statutory declaration

The authorised witness must sign and write, type, or stamp:

• their name
• the place and date of witnessing
• their qualification as an authorised statutory declaration witness.

They must also sign and date any attached documents.

If you are meeting online, send your declaration and any attachments to the authorised witness. The authorised witness will then sign them and include a statement that says the declaration has been taken remotely.

They must then send the statutory declaration back to you.

Your statutory declaration is now complete.