Victorian Oaths & Affirmations Changes Since 2019

In Victoria revised legislation was introduced, i.e. Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 and associated regulations, with the implementation date from the 1st March 2019.

This Act was for the wording for Oaths and Affirmations, Statutory Declarations, Affidavits and ‘Certified Copies’.
A number of changes made the wording for Certified Copies’ ‘Statutory Declarations’ and Affidavits prescribed (mandatory) as well as some forms.

In Victoria the wording for Statutory Declarations is ‘prescribed’ meaning that it is set in legislation / regulations as to what words must be used for the deponent (person who is presenting the document) to declare that the contents are true in correct in the Statutory Declaration, e.g. ‘ “I John or Mary Smith of 43 Jones Street, Melbourne declare that the contents of this declaration are true and correct.”…aloud in front of you unless they have a disability that prevents the person from doing so.
Then as the authorised witness sign with your usual signature, date and place your registration number and details on the document.

The short video on this page from the Victorian Department of Justice provides some additional information on the process for statutory declarations for a person requiring the service from an authorised witness.