Master prompt
Statutory declaration templates for ISD files (Ireland)
Statutory Declarations Act 1938 (Ireland) — name change, single status, relationship history, missing birth certificate, address proof. Witness eligibility + drafting format.
IrelandStatutory declarationSDA 1938Commissioner for OathsPeace CommissionerSolicitorNotary
You are drafting a statutory declaration for [CLIENT_NAME] for [DECLARATION_PURPOSE] ([INTENDED_USE]). Authorised witness: Solicitor.
§1 — STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ACT 1938 — LEGAL BASIS
The Statutory Declarations Act 1938 (Ireland) governs statutory declarations made for use within Ireland and Irish official purposes. The Act:
• Establishes the legal status of a statutory declaration (s.1)
• Specifies persons authorised to witness declarations (s.1)
• Provides for penalties for false declarations under the Criminal Law Act 1976 (perjury-type offences)
A statutory declaration is a written statement made under oath / solemn affirmation, witnessed by an authorised person, used as evidence in legal / administrative proceedings where no court is sitting.
§2 — AUTHORISED WITNESSES (Statutory Declarations Act 1938 s.1)
For declarations made in Ireland, an authorised witness is:
(a) Practising solicitor (Irish-admitted, on the Law Society Roll, holding a current Practising Certificate)
(b) Notary Public (Irish-admitted; or, for declarations made abroad, a foreign notary public — but for ISD use, Irish notary or apostilled foreign notary preferred)
(c) Commissioner for Oaths (appointed by the President of the High Court; many solicitors are also Commissioners for Oaths)
(d) Peace Commissioner (appointed under the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 by the Minister for Justice; volunteer role)
NOT acceptable:
[N] The declarant themselves
[N] Immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling)
[N] Solicitor acting for the declarant in the same matter (potential conflict — avoid)
Fees (typical, 2026 — verify):
• Solicitor — EUR 10-25 per declaration
• Notary Public — EUR 50-150 (more expensive; reserved for international use)
• Commissioner for Oaths — EUR 10-15
• Peace Commissioner — EUR 0-10 (often free as public service)
For [CLIENT_NAME] with Solicitor:
• State the typical fee + booking instructions
§3 — DECLARATIONS MADE OUTSIDE IRELAND
If [CLIENT_NAME] is signing the declaration abroad (e.g. in India before travel to Ireland):
• Sign before a foreign notary public (e.g. Indian Notary Public on state roll)
• Notary's signature should then be apostilled by competent authority (MEA Apostille for Indian notaries; see ie-docs-apostille-authentication)
• Some ISD officers prefer an Irish solicitor / notary — schedule the declaration immediately on arrival if logistics permit
§4 — STANDARD DRAFTING FORMAT
Use this template; adapt for [DECLARATION_PURPOSE]:
---
STATUTORY DECLARATION
I, [CLIENT_NAME], of [full Irish or current postal address], aged 18 years and upwards, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:
1. [Fact 1 — one statement per numbered paragraph]
2. [Fact 2]
3. [Fact 3]
...
N. I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938.
Declared before me by the said [CLIENT_NAME] who is personally known to me [OR whose identity has been established by [passport / photo ID]] at [location] this [Nth] day of [month] [year].
_____________________________________
[Witness signature]
[Witness name printed]
[Witness role — e.g. Solicitor / Commissioner for Oaths]
[Witness address]
[Law Society Roll Number / Commission reference, if applicable]
_____________________________________
[Declarant signature: CLIENT_NAME]
---
§5 — DECLARATION TEMPLATES BY PURPOSE
Based on [DECLARATION_PURPOSE], draft the body using one of these templates. Insert [KEY_FACTS] into the relevant paragraphs.
TEMPLATE A — NAME CHANGE (POST-MARRIAGE)
1. My full birth name is [BIRTH_NAME], as recorded on my birth certificate issued on [DATE] by [issuing authority, e.g. Office of the Sub-Registrar, Kochi].
2. On [MARRIAGE_DATE], I married [SPOUSE_NAME] at [MARRIAGE_LOCATION]. Our marriage was registered under [Marriage Registration Act, India / Hindu Marriage Act 1955 / Special Marriage Act 1954] vide certificate number [number] dated [date].
3. Following my marriage, I have, in accordance with custom and personal choice, adopted my husband's surname. My name is now styled "[MARRIED_NAME]" in all personal, professional, and official matters.
4. The name "[BIRTH_NAME]" and the name "[MARRIED_NAME]" refer to one and the same person, namely myself.
5. I confirm that I have not changed my name for any unlawful purpose or to evade any legal obligation.
6. I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938.
TEMPLATE B — SINGLE STATUS / NEVER MARRIED
1. I, [CLIENT_NAME], confirm that I am unmarried, have never been married, and am not in any subsisting civil partnership or registered relationship.
2. I have never been a party to any marriage that has been dissolved, annulled, or otherwise terminated.
3. There are no legal impediments preventing me from entering into marriage or civil partnership.
4. This declaration is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
5. I make this solemn declaration [...Statutory Declarations Act 1938.]
TEMPLATE C — RELATIONSHIP HISTORY WITH SPONSOR
1. I, [CLIENT_NAME], am the [spouse / civil partner / fiancé(e) / partner] of [SPONSOR_NAME], who is an Irish [citizen / Stamp 4 holder / Stamp 1 holder].
2. [SPONSOR_NAME] and I first met on or about [DATE] at [LOCATION] in the following circumstances: [brief narrative — how met].
3. Our relationship developed as follows: [chronology of milestones — dating, cohabitation, engagement, marriage, children — one bullet per milestone].
4. We are currently [married / civil partners / cohabiting / in a committed long-distance relationship] and intend to live together permanently in Ireland.
5. Our relationship is genuine, exclusive, and not entered into for any immigration purpose.
6. We have the following evidence of our relationship which is exhibited at "Exhibit A" to this declaration: [list — photos over time, joint accounts, communications, witness statements, etc.]
7. I make this solemn declaration [...Statutory Declarations Act 1938.]
TEMPLATE D — MISSING / UNAVAILABLE BIRTH CERTIFICATE
1. I, [CLIENT_NAME], was born on [DATE_OF_BIRTH] at [PLACE_OF_BIRTH].
2. My birth was registered with [issuing registrar / local authority]. Unfortunately:
(a) [The original birth certificate has been lost / destroyed / never issued due to historical circumstance / is unobtainable because (reason)].
(b) [I have made enquiries with the issuing authority on [dates] — letters / replies attached at Exhibit A — but a duplicate cannot be issued because (reason).]
3. My identity, date of birth, and place of birth are corroborated by the following documents:
(a) [Indian passport number ... issued ...]
(b) [Aadhaar number ... ]
(c) [School Leaving Certificate from ... ]
(d) [Affidavit of [father / mother / elder sibling]]
4. I make this solemn declaration [...Statutory Declarations Act 1938.]
TEMPLATE E — ADDRESS PROOF (when standard documents unavailable)
1. I, [CLIENT_NAME], currently reside at [FULL_ADDRESS] and have done so since [DATE].
2. The property is [owned by me / leased by me / occupied with permission of the owner / shared accommodation].
3. I am unable to provide standard address proofs (utility bill / bank statement in my name) because [reason — e.g. utilities in flatmate's name; recently moved; arrived in Ireland less than 30 days ago].
4. The following documents corroborate my residence at the above address:
(a) [Lease agreement dated ...]
(b) [Letter from landlord [name] dated ...]
(c) [Letter from flatmate [name] dated ...]
(d) [Bank statement in my name showing transactions at local merchants]
5. I make this solemn declaration [...Statutory Declarations Act 1938.]
TEMPLATE F — LOST PASSPORT / LOST IRP CARD
1. I, [CLIENT_NAME], am the holder of [Indian passport number ... / Irish IRP number ...] issued on [DATE] by [authority].
2. The said document was lost on or about [DATE] in the following circumstances: [brief narrative].
3. I have made the following enquiries / reports:
(a) Garda Síochána report number [number] filed at [station] on [date].
(b) Notified [issuing authority] on [date] — reference [number].
(c) Made enquiries at [places visited] — no recovery.
4. I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the document has not been used by any other person and I have not transferred it to any other person.
5. I undertake to surrender the original document to [authority] forthwith if recovered.
6. I make this solemn declaration [...Statutory Declarations Act 1938.]
§6 — APPLY [KEY_FACTS] TO TEMPLATE
Pick the right template based on [DECLARATION_PURPOSE], then convert [KEY_FACTS] into numbered paragraphs.
For example, if [KEY_FACTS] are:
"Born 1991-04-22 in Kochi, Kerala"
"Married Rohit Sharma 2024-03-15 in Trivandrum"
"Changed name from Aanya Verma to Aanya Sharma post-marriage"
"No prior marriages"
→ Use Template A (Name Change) with these facts integrated.
Show the rendered declaration with [KEY_FACTS] mapped to numbered paragraphs.
§7 — EXECUTION CHECKLIST
□ Witness's full role / Law Society Roll number / commission reference included
□ Witness sees the declarant sign (live signing — not pre-signed)
□ Declarant produces photo ID to witness (passport / IRP / Irish driving licence)
□ Date and place stated
□ Original (wet ink) kept on file; certified copies for submission
□ If declaration is being apostilled (for use abroad): see ie-docs-apostille-authentication
§8 — COMMON ERRORS
[N] Declaration is unsigned by witness on the original
[N] Witness role not stated (just signature)
[N] Statement begins "I believe" instead of "I do solemnly and sincerely declare"
[N] Missing reference to "Statutory Declarations Act 1938" — invalid in Ireland
[N] Witnessed by spouse / parent / non-qualified person
[N] Date older than 3 months at ISD lodgement — refresh
End with: "DRAFT — for solicitor or qualified immigration consultant review. Verify against current ISD guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt