Statutory declaration
Updated 2026-09-29
A statutory declaration is a written statement of facts that you sign in front of a Commissioner for Oaths or similar authorised officer, declaring it to be true. It is made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1960 and carries legal weight, since a false declaration is itself an offence.
When it matters
You may be asked for a statutory declaration to support a police report, a bank dispute, or a court filing, setting out exactly what happened, when, and how much was lost. Keep it factual and avoid guessing at details you are unsure of. It is a formal document, so if you are unsure how to word it for a civil claim against a scammer, a lawyer can help you prepare it properly.
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