Statutory Declaration (Witness)

A statutory declaration is a written statement that an individual (the declarant) signs and declares to be true and correct in the presence of someone else.

Who can witness my Statutory Declaration?

  

Who can witness a statutory declaration? Before we answer this question, let’s first understand what a statutory declaration means. Essentially, this is a written statement of facts that a person writes and declares to be true after signing. The party must sign and thereby declare the statement to be true in the presence of a witness.

You may have to use a statutory declaration for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • confirming personal details or change of name
  • verifying insurance claims
  • financial or health matters
  • employee’s evidence for sick leave

Who can witness a statutory declaration? In Australia, a person who is authorised by law to witness documents can witness statutory declarations.

The following people will be able to witness your Statutory Declaration:

  • Architect
  • Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post) who is in charge of an office that provides postal services to the public
  • Chiropractor
  • Commissioner for Declarations
  • Dentist
  • Financial adviser or financial planner
  • Justice of the Peace (JP)
  • Lawyer
  • Legal practitioner, with or without a practicing certificate
  • Marriage celebrant registered under the Marriage Act 1961
  • Medical practitioner
  • Midwife
  • Migration agent registered under Division 3 of Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958
  • Nurse
  • Occupational therapist
  • Optometrist
  • Patent attorney
  • Pharmacist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Police officer of the rank of sergeant or above
  • Psychologist
  • Teacher employed full-time or part-time at a school or tertiary education institution
  • Trade marks attorney
  • Veterinary surgeon