Affidavit Printing Mistake- How to resolve? I'm to submit an affidavit to a Post Office about a claim. Now the affidavit has only a one letter typing mistake in the name of a person(a surety), the address is alright. How to correct it? Do I have to make it anew or the notary can correct and put a stamp? What anyway is the process of correcting typing mistakes in affidavits?
Correcting a One-Letter Typing Mistake in a Notarised Affidavit
The short answer: Make a fresh affidavit. Do not overwrite or white-out.
Here is why, and what to do step by step.
Why you cannot just correct the existing one
An affidavit is a sworn statement. Once the notary has signed and sealed the document, the contents are locked. Any physical alteration (overwriting, cutting, white-out, correction fluid) on an already-notarised affidavit makes it legally suspect — the authority receiving it (in your case the Post Office) can reject it on the ground that it appears tampered with. Most notaries will also refuse to counter-sign an overwriting because it is not standard practice and risks their professional standing.
Under the Notaries Act 1952, a notarial act is only valid when done under the notary's own signature and official seal. No act specified in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be a notarial act except when it is done by a notary under his signature and official seal. [Notaries Act 1952 §8(2) — via Indian Kanoon doc 486735]
Once that seal is affixed to the original text, any post-hoc alteration to that text is outside the scope of what was attested.
The correct process — 3 steps
Step 1: Go back to the notary (or any notary) Take the misprinted affidavit with you. Tell the notary there is a one-letter error in the surety's name and you need to redo it.
Step 2: Get the affidavit retyped with the correct name The content stays identical — only the wrong letter is fixed. Print it on fresh non-judicial stamp paper (₹10 or ₹20, whichever the Post Office's format requires — check the original to confirm). There is no need to do a separate "correction deed" for a typo of this minor nature.
Step 3: Deponent signs + notary re-notarises The deponent (the person making the affidavit) signs the fresh copy in front of the notary. The notary administers the oath, endorses the document, and stamps and signs it. Preparing, signing and swearing of an affidavit are acts of the deponent; administering oath and making an endorsement in proof thereof on the affidavit are the notary's role.
That's it. You now have a clean, valid affidavit to submit to the Post Office.
What about the old (misprinted) affidavit?
Keep it. Do not destroy it. If the Post Office or anyone ever questions the correction, you can show the old copy as evidence that this was purely a typographical fix, not a substantive change.
Can't the notary just put a stamp over the correction?
In practice, some notaries do make marginal corrections (write the correct word in the margin, initial it, and put a stamp). However:
- This is not a standardised or universally accepted practice.
- A government authority like a Post Office is likely to question or reject it.
- The risk of rejection is high for a name error, because the whole purpose of the surety's name is identification.
The safest and cheapest path is always a fresh affidavit. The cost is minimal — just fresh stamp paper (₹10–₹20) and the notary's fee (typically ₹50–₹150 depending on city).
Summary
| Option | Safe? | Recommended? |
|---|---|---|
| Overwrite/white-out on existing affidavit | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Notary marginal correction + initials + stamp | ⚠️ Risky | Only if notary confirms Post Office will accept |
| Fresh affidavit with correct name, re-notarised | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes — do this |
JaanoHaq provides general legal information based on publicly available Indian statutes and government portals. It is not legal advice and does not create an advocate–client relationship. Free legal aid is available via your District Legal Services Authority — eligibility under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 §12 covers women, children, SC/ST, persons with disabilities, industrial workers, victims of trafficking, and persons below your state's notified income threshold.