AFFIDAVIT

 

affidavit (af-<<schwa>>-day-vit). A voluntary declaration of facts written down and sworn to

by the declarant before an officer authorized to administer oaths, such as a notary public. • A great

deal  of  evidence  is  submitted  by  affidavit,  esp.  in  pretrial  matters  such  as  summary-judgment

motions. Cf. DECLARATION(1), (8). [Cases: Affidavits    1. C.J.S. Affidavits §§ 2–6.]

affidavit after appeal.Patents. A sworn statement submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark

Office after the filing  of a notice  of appeal from an adverse determination by an examiner. • An

affidavit  or  declaration  submitted  after  a  case has  been  appealed  will  not be  admitted  without a

showing  of  good  and  sufficient  reasons  why  it  was  not  presented  earlier.  [Cases:  Patents    111.

C.J.S. Patents §§ 180–183.]

affidavit  after  final  rejection.Patents.  A  sworn  statement  submitted  to  the  U.S.  Patent  and

Trademark  Office  after  an  application’s  final  rejection.  —  Also  termed  declaration  after  final

affidavit  of  claim.An  affidavit  in  which  a  plaintiff  asserts  that  he  or  she  has  a  meritorious

cause of action.

affidavit of continued use.See DECLARATION OF USE.

affidavit of defense.See affidavit of merits.

affidavit of incontestability.See DECLARATION OF INCONTESTABILITY.

affidavit  of  increase.Hist.  An  affidavit  that  lists  —  and  seeks  reimbursement  from  the

opposing party for — the additional costs (above the filing fee and other basic fees charged by the

court clerk) incurred by a party in taking a matter through trial. • Attorney fees, witness payments,

and the like were included in this affidavit. See COSTS OF INCREASE.

affidavit  of  inquiry.An  affidavit,  required  in  certain  states  before  substituted  service  of

process on an absent defendant, in which the plaintiff’s attorney or a person with knowledge of the

facts  indicates  that  the  defendant  cannot  be  served  within  the  state.  [Cases:  Process    74,  137.

C.J.S. Process §§ 57, 89.]

affidavit of merit.See CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.

affidavit of merits.An affidavit in which a defendant asserts that he or she has a meritorious

defense. — Also termed affidavit of  defense. [Cases: Judgment    160, 391. C.J.S. Judgments §§

345, 407.]

affidavit of nonprosecution.An affidavit in which a crime victim requests that the perpetrator

not  be  prosecuted.  •  In  many  cases,  if  the  victim  files  an  affidavit  of  nonprosecution,  the

prosecutor will withdraw or not file criminal charges against the perpetrator on grounds that there

is no victim. Sometimes, though, the prosecutor will go forward with the prosecution even if the

victim files an affidavit of nonprosecution.

affidavit of notice.An affidavit stating that the declarant has given proper notice of hearing to

other parties to the action.

affidavit of service.An affidavit certifying the service of a notice, summons, writ, or process.

[Cases: Process    137. C.J.S. Process § 89.]

affidavit of use.See DECLARATION OF USE.

affidavit of verification.See VERIFICATION(1).

affidavit under § 8.See DECLARATION OF USE.

affidavit under § 15.See DECLARATION OF INCONTESTABILITY.

counteraffidavit.  An  affidavit  made  to  contradict  and  oppose  another  affidavit.  [Cases:

Affidavits    1. C.J.S. Affidavits §§ 2–6.]

IFP affidavit.See poverty affidavit.

in forma pauperis affidavit.See poverty affidavit.

pauper’s affidavit.See poverty affidavit.

poverty  affidavit.An  affidavit  made  by  an  indigent  person  seeking  public  assistance,

appointment of counsel, waiver of court fees, or other free public services. 28 USCA § 1915. —

Also  termed  pauper’s  affidavit;  in  forma  pauperis  affidavit;  IFP  affidavit.  [Cases:  Federal  Civil

Procedure    2734.]

self-proving affidavit.An affidavit attached to a will and signed by the testator and witnesses

certifying that the statutory requirements of due execution of the will have been complied with. •

The affidavit, which recites the facts of the will’s proper execution, permits the will to be probated

without the necessity of having the witnesses appear and prove due execution by their testimony.

[Cases: Wills    113. C.J.S. Wills §§ 253–255.]

sham  affidavit.An  affidavit  that  contradicts  clear  testimony  previously  given  by  the  same

witness,  usu.  used  in  an  attempt to  create an  issue  of  fact in  response  to  a  motion  for  summary

judgment. [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure    2539; Judgment    185.2(8). C.J.S. Judgments § 266.]

supplemental  affidavit.An  affidavit  made  in  addition  to  a  previous  one,  usu.  to  supply

additional facts. [Cases: Affidavits    16. C.J.S. Affidavits §§ 53–55.][Blacks Law 8th]