To self-attest, you write a statement of the facts you’re confirming, add the specific penalty-of-perjury language set out in 28 U.S.C. 1746, then sign and date it. That written declaration carries the same legal force as a sworn statement made before a notary, which is why so many federal agencies, employers, and programs accept it in place of a notarized affidavit.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1746 – Unsworn Declarations Under Penalty of Perjury The convenience comes with real exposure: a knowingly false attestation is a federal crime.
The Exact Language a Self-Attestation Must Contain
Federal law does not just ask you to promise something is true. It prescribes the wording, and two versions exist depending on where you sign.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1746 – Unsworn Declarations Under Penalty of Perjury
If you sign inside the United States, its territories, possessions, or commonwealths, close your declaration with:
“I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]. [Signature]”
If you sign outside the United States, add the reference to U.S. law:
“I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]. [Signature]”
The statute allows “substantially the following form,” so small wording variations will not automatically void a declaration. The core elements are not optional, though: you must declare under penalty of perjury, state that the information is true and correct, date the statement, and sign it. If the agency hands you a pre-printed form, that language is usually already there, and your signature at the bottom is what activates the legal commitment. If you are drafting your own statement, place one of the two formulas above at the end.
Steps to Complete and Submit One
Gather the Facts Before You Write
Pull together what you are attesting to before you put anything in writing. That may mean income figures, household size, dates of employment or unemployment, residency, or health status. Keep the underlying records nearby, such as pay stubs, benefit letters, or utility bills, even when the agency does not ask you to submit them. You are signing under penalty of perjury, so guessing at a number you could verify is a risk with no upside.
Complete the Form or Draft Your Statement
Use the official form if the agency provides one, and fill in every field. Many government self-attestation forms already contain the 28 U.S.C. 1746 language, so signing and dating is enough. For a freeform declaration, common in court filings and some immigration matters, state the relevant facts clearly and close with the appropriate statutory formula above.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1746 – Unsworn Declarations Under Penalty of Perjury
Read the declaration language before you sign. Some forms include broad certifications that reach beyond the specific questions on the page, and your signature covers all of it. Attest to your circumstances as of the signing date unless the form specifically asks about an earlier period.
Sign, Date, and Submit
Submission methods vary. Some agencies accept uploads through online portals, others require mailed hard copies, and some want in-person delivery. For mail, use a trackable service. For online submissions, an electronic signature is usually acceptable; under the federal E-SIGN Act, an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 7001 – General Rule of Validity
Keep a copy of everything after you submit: the completed form, any confirmation email or tracking number, and the supporting records you used. Processing can take days or weeks, and agencies sometimes come back asking for additional documentation.
Where Self-Attestation Does Not Work
Some documents require notarization, witness signatures, or both, and no self-attestation can substitute. Real estate deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and many court filings fall into this group because the law demands independent verification of your identity and intent. Check the specific requirements before you assume a signed declaration will suffice.
The 28 U.S.C. 1746 framework itself does not apply to depositions or to oaths that must be taken before a specific official other than a notary.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1746 – Unsworn Declarations Under Penalty of Perjury If you need a document recognized in a foreign country, you will typically need notarization followed by an apostille, and a self-attested version will not clear that process.
Even within programs that accept self-attestation, some facts are carved out. Medicaid is a good example: states can accept your self-attestation on most eligibility factors, but citizenship and immigration status still require separate documentation.3Medicaid.gov. What Are the Eligibility Factors for Which States Can/Cannot Accept Self-Attestation?
Correcting a Mistake After You Submit
Honest errors happen. If you realize after mailing a form that a number is wrong or a date is off, contact the agency right away, explain the mistake, and ask how to file a corrected version. Agencies generally distinguish good-faith corrections from intentional misrepresentation, and reaching out proactively works in your favor.
Do not assume the agency will catch it on its own. If the error is material, meaning it could change an eligibility decision or the outcome of your application, leaving it uncorrected carries the same legal risk as an intentional falsehood. A phone call or written amendment is far easier than defending yourself against a fraud allegation later.
Penalties for a False Self-Attestation
Two federal criminal statutes apply, and both matter.
If your declaration contains the penalty-of-perjury language and you knowingly write something false, you can be charged with perjury under 18 U.S.C. 1621. A conviction carries a fine and up to five years in federal prison, and the statute applies whether you signed inside or outside the United States.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1621 – Perjury Generally
Even when a document lacks the standard perjury language, submitting false information to a federal agency triggers 18 U.S.C. 1001. Knowingly making a false statement or concealing a material fact in any matter within federal jurisdiction is punishable by a fine and up to five years in prison. This statute is broader than perjury and covers written documents, verbal statements, and omissions designed to hide the truth.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1001 – Statements or Entries Generally
Criminal charges are not the only exposure. A false attestation will usually disqualify you from the benefit or program you applied for, and you may be required to repay anything already received. Some programs add civil penalties or a permanent bar from future eligibility.