Affidavit of Residence — What It Is and How to Get One

A sworn, notarized statement of where you (or someone you know) legally reside. Learn what it includes, when you need one instead of a letter, and how to prepare it.

Create a Proof of Residency Letter

Affidavit or letter?

An affidavit is sworn before a notary under penalty of perjury. If the request simply asks you to prove your address, a signed proof of residency letter is usually enough — draft one with the generator, then have it notarized only if an affidavit is specifically required.

What is an affidavit of residence?

An affidavit of residence is a written statement, sworn under oath before a notary public, that confirms where a person legally lives. The word "affidavit" is what sets it apart from an ordinary proof of residency letter: the person signing — the affiant — swears that the facts are true under penalty of perjury, and a notary certifies that oath. That sworn element is exactly what a requester is after when they ask for an affidavit rather than just a letter.

Because it carries the weight of a legal oath, an affidavit of residence is used where a plain confirmation would not be trusted: enrolling a child in a specific school district, registering a vehicle, proving in-state residency for tuition, or establishing residence in a court or government matter. The affiant can be the resident themselves or a third party with direct knowledge, such as a parent, landlord, or relative.

Affidavit of residence vs proof of residency letter

Affidavit of residence

Sworn under oath and notarized. The affiant signs in front of a notary, who completes a notarial certificate. Required when an official body wants a legally binding statement — a school district, the DMV, a court, or a securities transfer agent.

Proof of residency letter

A signed confirmation of address, often written by a landlord, employer, or family member. No oath, and usually no notary. Accepted by most landlords, banks, and everyday requests — and far faster when nobody specifically asked for an affidavit.

Read the request carefully. If it says "affidavit," plan on notarization. If it just asks you to prove where you live, use the generator to create a proof of residency letter and skip the extra step. Our proof of residency letter sample shows what the letter version looks like.

What an affidavit of residence includes

A valid affidavit of residence generally states:

  • The affiant's full legal name and their relationship to the resident, if signing for someone else.
  • The residential address being affirmed, written out in full.
  • How the affiant knows the facts — that they live there, or personally know the person does.
  • How long the person has resided at the address.
  • A sworn statement that the information is true under penalty of perjury.
  • The affiant's signature and the date, signed in the notary's presence.
  • A notary block (jurat) — the notary's signature, seal, commission expiry, and the date the oath was taken.

Some requesters, especially school districts, also ask you to attach supporting documents such as a utility bill or lease in the resident's name. See what counts as proof of residency for the documents commonly accepted alongside the affidavit.

When you need an affidavit of residence

  • School enrollment. Districts require proof a child lives within their boundaries; a parent's notarized affidavit is a standard part of the packet.
  • Vehicle registration and the DMV. Some states accept an affidavit of residence when you lack a utility bill or lease in your own name.
  • In-state tuition. Colleges use it to confirm residency for reduced-rate tuition.
  • Court and government matters. A judge or agency may require a sworn statement of where a party resides.
  • Affidavit of domicile (after a death). A sworn statement of the state a deceased person legally resided in, used to transfer stocks and other securities out of their estate.

The first four concern a living person's current address. The last, the affidavit of domicile, is a distinct legal document about a decedent's state of residence — check which one your requester actually means before you prepare it.

How to get an affidavit of residence

Draft the statement — your name, the address, how you know it, and the sworn language.

Take it to a notary and sign in their presence so they can administer the oath.

Submit the notarized affidavit, with any supporting documents the requester asked for.

Do not sign an affidavit before you reach the notary — the whole point is that the signature is witnessed under oath. Notarization is available at most banks, shipping stores, and law offices, and online notaries are accepted in many states. If a court or agency handed you their own blank affidavit as a PDF, you can type the details into the affidavit form online first, then print the completed document to sign at the notary.

Only need to prove your address? Start with a letter

When no one specifically asked for a sworn affidavit, a signed proof of residency letter is accepted almost everywhere and takes minutes. Generate one, then have it notarized only if an affidavit is required.

Create Your Proof of Residency Letter

Frequently asked questions

No. A proof of residency letter is a signed confirmation of where someone lives. An affidavit of residence is a sworn statement — the signer swears the facts are true before a notary, under penalty of perjury. When a requester specifically asks for an affidavit, they want that notarized, sworn version. When they simply ask you to "prove" your address, a signed letter usually satisfies them.

Almost always, yes. The defining feature of an affidavit is the oath, and that oath is administered by a notary public who completes a notarial certificate (a jurat) at the bottom. An un-notarized statement of residence is really just a letter, not an affidavit. Sign it in front of the notary, not before.

Either the resident themselves, or a third party with direct knowledge of where the person lives — commonly a parent affirming a child's residence for school enrollment, or a landlord or relative confirming a tenant's or family member's address. The signer (the affiant) must have personal knowledge of the facts they are swearing to.

An affidavit of domicile (sometimes called an affidavit of residence of a decedent) is a sworn statement of the state a deceased person legally resided in at the time of death. It is used to transfer stocks, bonds, and other securities out of their estate, so the transfer agent knows which state's law applies. It concerns a decedent's legal domicile, not a living person's current address.

There is no fixed expiry, but most requesters want one dated recently — typically within the last 30 to 90 days — because an address can change. School districts and the DMV often want the affidavit for the current enrollment period or transaction. Sign a fresh one close to the date you submit it.