Free Affidavit of Identity Template

An Affidavit of Identity is used to help maintain a cohesive identity across official and administrative processes within Canada. You must affirm that the information in your Affidavit is true before an authorized official, like a notary, to make it valid.

It is frequently required when names differ due to marriage, divorce, cultural naming conventions, transliteration differences, and clerical errors. Organizations commonly rely on this Affidavit as supporting evidence alongside government-issued identification or legal name-change documents. It’s not usually used as proof of identity on its own.

You’d typically use this Affidavit to explain name discrepancies across records held by the following institutions:

• Federal and provincial government agencies and departments
• Financial institutions
• Insurers
• Pension administrators
• Courts and court registries
• Insurance companies
• Employers and payroll administrators
• Indigenous services and band administration offices
• Professional and occupational regulatory bodies
• Educational institutions
• Immigration, citizenship, and border-related authorities
• Land registry offices and parties involved in real estate transactions
• Lawyers, law firms, and notaries handling legal matters
• Estates, trusts, and probate administrators

The exact details and information included in your Affidavit may vary depending on the jurisdiction’s specific requirements and why it’s being prepared. Generally, an Affidavit of Identity should include the following information:

• Your Personal Information: Include your legal name, current address, date of birth, and contact information.
• Previous Names or Variations: Provide a list of any previous names or variations of your name used or by which you have been known.
• • Include maiden names, previous surnames, nicknames, or any other names associated with you.
• Reason for the Affidavit: The Affidavit should state the reason for declaring that you are one and the same person.
• Supporting Documentation: Depending on the specific requirements or purpose of the Affidavit, you may need to provide supporting documentation.
• • This can include copies of identification documents, marriage certificates, court orders for name changes, or other relevant paperwork.
• Commissioning: You must sign the Affidavit in the presence of a notary public or commissioner of oaths. The notary will add their official seal or stamp and also sign the document to certify its authenticity.

An Affidavit of Identity must be commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary public or commissioner of oaths, to be valid.

During commissioning, you swear or affirm that the contents of your Affidavit are true before the official. You’ll sign your Affidavit while the official witnesses your signature, and they’ll sign it too. Check out our blog to learn more about the process of commissioning.

Once commissioned, the Affidavit becomes a legally recognized document that pension authorities, insurers, and other institutions can accept.

You can meet with a notary public online to have your Affidavit of Identity commissioned in 7 minutes, from anywhere.

Providing false or inaccurate information in an Affidavit may constitute perjury, a criminal offence in Canada.