Form N285 Affidavit UK: Sworn Statement Guide 2025

What this document is

Form N285 is the template used in the courts of England and Wales for swearing an affidavit. In simple terms, an affidavit is a written statement of facts that the maker, known as the deponent, confirms to be true by taking a religious oath or by making a non-religious affirmation in front of an authorised person.

The oath or affirmation is what separates an affidavit from an ordinary witness statement, and it carries real legal weight. Lying in an affidavit can amount to perjury or contempt of court, both of which are serious offences. Affidavits tend to turn up in family proceedings, probate disputes, some types of enforcement action, insolvency matters such as statutory demands, and certain applications where the court rules or a specific practice direction require sworn evidence rather than a standard statement of truth.

The form itself sets out who is giving the evidence, who they are, and provides the structure for the facts and any exhibits referred to in the document.

How to use this document

1. Check whether an affidavit is actually required. Most civil evidence now uses a witness statement signed with a statement of truth. Before going through the extra step of swearing an affidavit, confirm the relevant court rules, practice direction, or order in your case specifically calls for sworn evidence on Form N285 rather than a witness statement.
2. Set out the facts clearly and in order. Write in the first person, using numbered paragraphs, and stick to facts you know personally. If something was told to you by someone else, say so and identify the source. Leave out opinion, argument, and speculation, as the court is only interested in the evidence you can give.
3. Attach and label any exhibits properly. Documents referred to in the affidavit are called exhibits and each one needs its own reference, such as 'BA1', 'BA2' and so on. Every exhibit should have a front sheet identifying the affidavit it belongs to, and the Commissioner for Oaths will usually endorse each one when you swear the document.
4. Swear or affirm the affidavit in front of an authorised person. You need to attend in person before a solicitor who is a Commissioner for Oaths, a notary public, or another authorised officer. You will either swear on a holy book or affirm, and the Commissioner will complete the jurat at the end confirming when and where it was sworn.
5. File the affidavit with the court and serve it on the other parties. Once sworn, lodge the original with the court dealing with your case by the deadline set out in the rules or in any directions order. Copies, including exhibits, normally need to go to every other party within the same timeframe, so keep proof of service.