A signature name affidavit is a sworn statement that the different versions of your name all belong to you. Lenders and title companies ask for it at a loan closing when your name appears differently across your credit report, ID and loan documents.
It is also called a name affidavit, signature affidavit, AKA statement, or “one and the same” affidavit.
Why lenders ask for it
Your credit report might show “Maria L. Santos”, your deed “Maria Lopez Santos”, and an old account “Maria Lopez”. The lender needs proof that these are one person before it funds the loan. The affidavit gives them that proof on a single page.
What the form contains
- Your legal name, printed and signed
- Each name variation, printed, with your signature written that way beside it
- A sworn statement that all the names refer to you
- The notary’s certificate
The person signing is the affiant. The affiant signature is your normal signature, made in front of the notary after you take an oath.
Why it has to be notarized
The affidavit is sworn, so a notary must put you under oath and watch you sign. The notary also checks your ID. In Oregon the ID can be a passport, driver license, state ID, military ID or tribal ID, current or expired within the last three years. See what to do without ID.
A notary can only identify you by the name on your ID. If a variation is very different from your ID, such as a former married name, bring a document that connects the two, like a marriage certificate or court order.
How to complete one
- Get the form from your lender or title company. Do not add variations they did not list.
- Bring the form and your photo ID to the notary. Do not sign beforehand.
- Sign each name variation the way it is printed.
- Take the oath and sign as affiant. The notary completes the certificate and stamps it.
At a loan signing this form is usually in the closing package, and the signing agent handles it with the rest of the documents.
FAQ
Is a signature name affidavit the same as a name change?
No. It does not change your legal name. It only confirms that past and present versions of your name refer to you.
What if a listed name is not mine?
Do not sign for it. Cross it out, initial it, and tell your lender or title company.
How much does it cost to notarize a signature name affidavit?
$10 per notarized signature at a Pac Signing office, or a $70 travel fee plus $10 per signature for a mobile visit in Oregon.
Need it notarized today? Call (971) 394-4152, book online, or ask for a mobile notary.
Official source: ORS chapter 194: Oregon Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.