The affiant is the person who makes statements in an affidavit. What is the proper term for that person?

• A. Affiant
• B. Notary
• C. Witness
• D. Respondent

Answer: (A)

The main idea is identifying who actually makes the statements in a sworn document. In an affidavit, the person who writes and swears to the statements is called the affiant. The term comes from the document itself—an affidavit is a sworn declaration, and the affiant is the one whose statements are being made under oath.

The notary public’s role is to administer the oath and witness the signing, not to provide the statements themselves. A witness may observe or attest to the signing, but the witness is not the person making the sworn statements. A respondent is simply someone who responds to a legal action, not the person whose words are sworn in the affidavit. So the correct term for the person who makes the statements is affiant.