Sovereign citizens frequently use the phrase “Affidavit of Truth” as a supposed legal document to claim they are not subject to laws or obligations they don’t agree with. However, it holds no weight in real courts. Here’s a deeper look:
- Sovereign Citizen Belief:
- Sovereign citizens believe an “Affidavit of Truth” is a powerful document that, when filled out and submitted, magically negates debts, nullifies court orders, or exempts them from laws.
- Meaningless in Real Law:
- Affidavits are sworn statements that can be used as evidence in court, but only if they are relevant to the case and properly submitted. Typically, a sovereign citizen’s “Affidavit of Truth” makes absurd claims without any supporting evidence.
- Goals of Using an “Affidavit of Truth”:
- Avoid Legal Obligations: They hope this fabricated document will somehow erase debts, stop lawsuits, or shield them from legitimate legal consequences.
- Confused Legal System: Sovereign citizens might use them to disrupt court proceedings or overwhelm officials with nonsensical paperwork.
- Why It Doesn’t Work:
- No Legal Authority: Courts are familiar with sovereign citizen tactics and don’t recognize “Affidavits of Truth” as valid legal documents. They have no power to change your legal obligations.
- Can Backfire: In some cases, filing frivolous affidavits could be seen as contempt of court and lead to fines or even jail time.
Here’s what to remember:
- It’s important to understand that “Affidavits of Truth” created by sovereign citizens have no legal standing and are not recognized by courts. These documents are often seen as frivolous and may result in sanctions or other legal consequences for the filer.
Citations:
- Sovereign Citizen Use of Documents to Further Fraudulent Schemes – North Dakota State’s Attorneys’ Association: http://ndsaa.org/image/cache/Sovereign_Citizen_Use_of_Documents_to_Further_Fraudulent_Schemes.pdf This document mentions that sovereign citizens often use “Affidavits of Truth” in attempts to cease court-related actions or declare themselves exempt from government regulation.
- The Sovereign Citizen Movement in the United States – Anti-Defamation League (ADL): https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states This resource explains that sovereign citizens engage in “paper terrorism,” which includes filing frivolous lawsuits and other legal documents, such as “Affidavits of Truth,” to harass government officials and clog the courts.
