WHAT IS A STATUTORY DECLARATION?

A statutory declaration is a formal statement made to declare that something is true to the best knowledge of the person making the said declaration. It must be witnessed in the presence of a solicitor, a commissioner for oaths, or a notary public. The person making the declaration, known as the declarant, must sign the document in the presence of one of these authorized witnesses. This legal document is used to assert the truth of any fact or statement, under the liability of perjury, and is required in various legal or administrative proceedings.

COMMON USAGE OF A STATUTORY DECLARATION

Statutory declarations are commonly used in Hong Kong in the following circumstances:

  • Proof of Identity: Individuals may use statutory declarations to affirm their identity in situations where other forms of identification are not available.
  • Immigration and Visa Applications: Statutory declarations can be used to provide evidence of certain facts or circumstances in support of immigration or visa applications.
  • Banking and Financial Matters: Banks and financial institutions may require a statutory declaration for certain transactions, such as declaring the source of funds or affirming the truth of financial statements.
  • Insurance Claims: To support an insurance claim, a statutory declaration may be used to provide a formal statement of the circumstances surrounding the claim.
  • Employment and Education: Employers or educational institutions may require statutory declarations as part of the application process to verify information provided by the applicant.
  • Government Applications: Various government applications may require a statutory declaration to affirm the truthfulness of the information provided.
  • Corporate Declarations: Company officers may need to make statutory declarations regarding corporate affairs, affirming facts about the company’s operations or compliance with regulations.

FALSE STATUTORY DECLARATION

Under Hong Kong laws, it is a criminal offence for a person to knowingly and willfully make a false statutory declaration. If a person found is found guilty of having made a false statutory declaration, this person is liable on conviction upon indictment to imprisonment for two years and to a fine.

WITNESSING A STATUTORY DECLARATION

A statutory declaration can be witnessed the on the same day you instruct us. You will need to provide us with a copy of your identification document (e.g. passport or Hong Kong Identity Card). We charge HK$200 for witnessing a statutory declaration.

PREPARING A STATUTORY DECLARATION

We draft statutory declarations for clients for a wide variety of matters. Our fee for drafting a statutory declaration starts at HK$500 and ultimately depends on the complexity involved.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH US

​If you have additional questions which are not addressed here or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us by telephone on +852 5447 5401, by WhatsApp (+852 5447 5401)or by email at enquiries@ghserviceshk.com. You can also schedule an appointment by clicking the button below.

Schedule an Appointment