When Would you Need a Single Status Affidavit?
Among the situations where you need such an affidavit are when:
- you intend to marry your partner in another country and the requirements include a single status certificate
- you are applying for a visa or immigration status and the authorities require proof of your single status
- you want to adopt a child as a single parent
- you are entering into a business contract that requires proof of your single status, such as a prenuptial agreement.
What Should Be Included in a Single Status Affidavit?
The following information should be included in a single status affidavit:
- The affiant’s full name
- The affiant’s date of birth
- The affiant’s current address
- The affiant’s citizenship
- An attestation that the affiant is single, not married, and has never been married (if applicable, an attestation that the affiant has never entered into a civil partnership or registered domestic partnership)
- The date of the affidavit
- A statement that the affidavit is true to the best of the affiant’s knowledge
- The affiant’s signature
- The signature of a witness who can attest to the affiant’s identity, such as a notary public, lawyer, or other professional (read more about the attestation of signatures on our general page about affidavits).
How to Fill Out a Single Status Affidavit?
In the event you plan to prepare your own single status affidavit, here are some steps to make the process easy for you.
Step 1 – Put the name and address of the affiant
Write down your full name, and address including street, city, state, and postal code. Further, include the language that should be used in the affidavit, for example: “I, (full name), of (address), hereby depose and say:”
Step 2 – Indicate your citizenship
Mention your citizenship, for example: “I am a citizen of (country).”
Step 3 – State your single status
The next part involves writing a sworn statement about you being single. Here, a single status affidavit affirms one of the following statuses:
- If you have never been married, write: “I am single and have never been married.” If applicable, also state that you have never entered into a civil partnership or registered domestic partnership.
- If you are divorced, include the date of divorce and say “I am divorced as of (date).” The same should be done if you are widowed.
Step 4 – Mention the date
Include the date of the affidavit, for example: “This affidavit is dated (date).”
Step 5 – Sign the document
After you have finished filling out the single status certificate, sign it in front of a notary public. The notary will then sign and stamp the document.
Single Status Affidavit FAQ
How to get my single status affidavit form if I am outside of the USA?
If you are an American citizen outside of the United States, you can contact the nearest American embassy or consulate for assistance in obtaining a single status affidavit. The staff there will be able to advise you on the steps you need to take to get the document you need.
What would be the cost of the affidavit?
The cost of single status affidavits varies depending on the state where you obtain the document. In general, there is a fee for the search of vital records as well as a fee for the certification of the document. You should contact your local vital records office for specific pricing information.
What if my single status letter gets lost?
If your single status affidavit is lost or destroyed, you will need to obtain a new one. You can contact your local vital records office to find out how to do this.
Is it possible to get a single status affidavit if I was born outside of the US?
Yes, you can still get a single status affidavit form even if you were born in a country other than the United States. For the information on obtaining the document properly, you will need to contact the vital records office in the state where you were born.
How to Obtain a Single Status Affidavit?
Provided you are in the United States, turn to your local County Clerk’s office to get a paper that would state that you have a single status at the moment. It is possible that you might be told that you cannot obtain the document there; if this is the case, find a supervisor and explain your intent to them as almost all County Clerks have the ability to provide the necessary record. If you get your document from your local office, you won’t need to notarize your signature on it.
However, should you face a situation where the County Clerk’s office cannot provide you with the affidavit, you can always use a template provided on our website. It is free and lets you fill in all the necessary information following the simple steps. The goal of this document is to show that you have no ongoing legal marriage with anyone from the US. The document will be considered lawful if you sign and notarize it. You should always make sure that the institution you are sending your document to is accepting affidavits directly from affiants.
In the event you are outside of the US and you need a single status affidavit, the US Embassy or US Consulate office in the country of your stay will help you. They will give you guidelines on how to fill it out and have it notarized. They will also assist you with the questions of having the document apostilled.
Does Affidavit of Single Status Need to be Apostilled?
For a document to be used in another country, it may need to be apostilled. An apostille is a seal or stamp authenticating the document for use in another country.
Each country has different requirements for an apostille, so you will have to speak with the government agency in the country where you want to use the document.
If you are going to use your affidavit of single status in a country that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention, then your document can be approved by the Secretary of State in the state where you had it notarized.
If the country that you are going to use your affidavit in is not a member of the Hague Convention, then you will have to follow the requirements of that country. Your affidavit might have to be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, and then legalized by the embassy or consulate of the country where you are using the document.
Getting an apostille or authentication can take weeks, so it is important to plan ahead if you need the document for an upcoming event. If you are unsure what steps to take, it is best to talk to an attorney experienced in getting documents such as this.
If you need a single status affidavit, contact your local vital records office. When you were born in the US, the office of vital records would be helpful in guiding you through the process of obtaining your birth certificate.