What is the difference between an Affidavit of Identity and a name change order?

A name change order is a court order legally changing your name. An Affidavit of Identity does not change your name — it simply clarifies that two different name variations refer to the same person. They are complementary documents: a name change order changes the name, while the affidavit explains historical documents that still use the old name. When both documents exist, presenting them together creates a clear paper trail from the old name to the new one.

Does an Affidavit of Identity need to be notarized?

Yes. For it to be accepted by courts, title companies, financial institutions, or government agencies, the affidavit must be notarized. The notary verifies your identity with photo ID and witnesses your signature, which is especially important for a document about identity. Without notarization, most institutions will not accept the affidavit as sufficient proof.

Can I use this affidavit if I have a hyphenated or middle name discrepancy?

Yes. Affidavits of Identity are commonly used for all types of name variations — hyphenated last names, middle names vs. middle initials, maiden names vs. married names, shortened nicknames vs. full legal names, and similar discrepancies. The affidavit can explain the connection between any two name variations, and multiple variations can be addressed in a single affidavit if necessary.

How is an Affidavit of Identity different from an Affidavit of One and the Same Person?

They are essentially the same document — "Affidavit of One and the Same Person" is simply another name for an Affidavit of Identity. Both serve the purpose of swearing that two different name variations belong to the same individual. The terminology varies by institution and jurisdiction, but the content and legal function are identical.

Will a single affidavit work for all institutions that have the name discrepancy?

In most cases, yes — a single notarized Affidavit of Identity can be used with multiple institutions as long as it clearly identifies all the relevant name variations. You may need to provide certified copies or originals to each institution. Some title companies or government agencies may have their own preferred form, so always check whether a specific form is required before submitting.

Free Affidavit of Identity Form

An Affidavit of Identity is a sworn statement confirming a person's identity or clarifying a name discrepancy across legal, financial, or government documents. It is commonly used when two documents show different versions of a name — such as after a legal name change, marriage, or clerical error.

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Fill in the fields below, then download your completed affidavit.

Affidavit of Identity

Fill in the fields below to generate your form.

Affiant Information

Full Legal Name *

Date of Birth

Street Address *

City *

State *

Sworn Statement

Statement of Facts *

I swear or affirm that the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Signature

Date of Signature *

Notary Acknowledgment

State of _________________________ County of _________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before me on this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public: __________________________ My Commission Expires: __________________

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Submitting does not file any legal document. This tool generates a printable template only.

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How to Complete This Form

1Enter your full current legal name as it appears on your primary government-issued ID.
2List all name variations that appear on other documents (e.g., prior name, hyphenated name, name with or without middle initial).
3Briefly explain the reason for the discrepancy (e.g., marriage, divorce, clerical error, name change order).
4Reference the specific documents that show the different name variations, if applicable.
5Sign the completed form in front of a notary public, who will verify your identity and witness the signature.

What Is an Affidavit of Identity?

An Affidavit of Identity (also called an Affidavit of One and the Same Person) is a notarized document in which a person swears that two or more names on separate documents refer to the same individual. This is frequently necessary when names appear inconsistently across government IDs, financial accounts, property deeds, or court records. For example, a property deed might say 'John A. Smith' while a passport says 'John Alexander Smith' — an Affidavit of Identity clarifies they are the same person. It is also used after a legal name change to bridge old and new documents.

An affidavit of identity form is a practical solution for one of the most common administrative hurdles people face — inconsistent name records across government, financial, and legal documents. When filling out an affidavit of identity, the key is to be specific: list each name variation exactly as it appears on the document that contains it, and clearly identify which documents are affected. Vague or incomplete affidavits are more likely to be rejected.

An affidavit of identity template like ours is designed to capture the essential information any title company, financial institution, or court would need. The affiant (person signing) should be prepared to show government-issued photo ID at the time of notarization, since the notary's role is to verify that the person signing is who they claim to be — which is especially relevant for an affidavit that is specifically about identity. Once notarized, the affidavit of identity can be filed with the recording office or attached to relevant documents to permanently clarify the discrepancy.

When Do You Need an Affidavit of Identity?

✓Your name appears differently on your passport, driver's license, or Social Security card
✓A property deed uses a different form of your name than your current ID
✓You changed your name after marriage or divorce and need to bridge old documents
✓A financial institution flags a name discrepancy in account records
✓You need to connect a legal name change to existing property or contract records
✓A court filing requires clarification that two differently-named documents belong to the same person
✓An employer or background check company requests identity clarification

Notarization Required

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