The phrase, “…and they lived happily ever after.” makes a lot of people want to dream and have their own happy endings. But, there are tons of paperwork and processes to fulfill before that! And, one of which is an affidavit of single status. Without this vital form, a couple won’t be able to say their marriage vows and be legally married.
Who wants to get married and end up with a bigamy court case? Well, no one, right? That is the reason why an affidavit of single status becomes one of the essential documents that a soon-to-be-wed couple must submit. It will serve as proof that both the man and woman are legally allowed to remarry or get married. This form is also known as the statement of freedom to marry, single status affidavit, single letter, and letter of freedom to marry. Regardless of the name, the form must have a notarial stamp from a notary public to certify that its contents are true and accurate.
When an individual gets married to more than one spouse, and none of the spouses knew of each other’s marriages, then he is committing bigamy. While, if all involved knew of the double marital union, and there’s a cultural belief surrounding it, then the term used is polygamy. However, be it polygamy or bigamy, the United States of America does not condone the act. That’s why there’s a law for it known as the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act. And, to prove that one is single and not married to anyone, even abroad, is by presenting an affidavit of single status. What about the penalty for the offenders? Well, it’s imprisonment for up to five years. But, the number of years will depend on a case-by-case scenario and the state where the couples lived.
Different states have varying affidavit formats that they follow. So, if you’re still looking for the right one to use, then consider our affidavit of single status examples below which are available in PDF and DOC formats:
