An affidavit is 'a written or printed ____________ ____ ______, made voluntarily, and under oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath.'

• A. Certificate of facts
• B. Declaration of purposes
• C. Statement of facts
• D. Affidavit of identity

Answer: (C)

An affidavit is a written or printed statement of facts, made voluntarily, and under oath or affirmation before an officer authorized to administer such oath. The key idea is that the document records facts the signer asserts as true and is sworn to be true. Because it’s sworn, the signer is vouching for the truth of the facts under penalty of perjury, which gives the statement legal weight in courts and other proceedings. A notary or other authorized official administers the oath and witnesses the signing to ensure the document is properly executed and that the signer’s identity is established.

The other options describe different terms that don’t align with the standard definition of an affidavit. A certificate of facts isn’t the usual label used for sworn statements; a declaration of purposes refers to intentions rather than factual statements; an affidavit of identity is a specialized form used to prove who someone is, not the general concept of a sworn statement of facts.