What is an "affidavit"?

An affidavit is a written statement made under oath, which is sworn before a notary public or another authorized official. The essence of an affidavit is that it is a legal document that provides evidence or information and is typically used in court proceedings or legal contexts to support a case. The individual providing the affidavit affirms that the contents are true to the best of their knowledge, which adds a layer of credibility and legal weight to the statements made within the document.

In contrast, a verbal agreement made in court does not have the formalized structure or requirement of being sworn, thus lacking the same legal standing as an affidavit. A type of jury instruction, on the other hand, refers to guidelines given to jurors about the legal principles that should be considered during deliberation, which is unrelated to the nature of affidavits. Finally, a summary of written laws pertains to a general overview or synopsis of legal statutes and regulations, which does not capture the specific and formalized nature of an affidavit.