What is a Same Name Affidavit Form?
The Same Name Affidavit Form is a crucial legal instrument in Saudi Arabia used when an individual needs to officially establish that different versions of their name refer to the same person. This situation commonly arises due to variations in Arabic-to-English transliteration, religious conversion, marriage-related name changes, or simple spelling discrepancies across different documents. The form must comply with Saudi Arabian civil status laws and typically requires notarization and official authentication. It is particularly relevant for legal proceedings, official transactions, and documentation where precise identity verification is essential. The document becomes especially important in international contexts where Saudi documents need to be used abroad or foreign documents need to be used within Saudi Arabia.
About the Same Name Affidavit Form
When you have different versions of your name appearing on various official documents in Saudi Arabia, you need a Same Name Affidavit Form to legally establish that these variations all refer to you as the same person. This sworn legal statement becomes your official proof of identity consistency, ensuring smooth processing of legal matters, business transactions, and government procedures.
When do you need this document?
You'll need this affidavit when applying for Saudi residency permits with name discrepancies between your passport and other documents, conducting real estate transactions where property deeds show different name spellings, or processing employment documents where your academic certificates use different transliterations of your Arabic name. The document is also essential when handling inheritance matters where family names appear differently across various legal documents, or when dealing with banking procedures that require consistent identity verification across multiple accounts and financial instruments.
Key legal considerations
Your affidavit must include comprehensive personal information including your full name variations, Saudi national ID number or Iqama number, date of birth, and current address. The declaration statement should clearly specify each name variation and provide detailed explanations for why these differences exist, whether due to Arabic-to-English transliteration standards, historical spelling changes, or cultural naming conventions. You must list all current official documents that use different name versions and explain the circumstances requiring this affidavit. The document requires your sworn oath before a notary public, and any false statements can result in serious legal consequences under Saudi Arabia's Anti-Forgery Law, including potential criminal charges and document invalidation.
Legal requirements in Saudi Arabia
Under the Civil Status Law (Royal Decree No. M/7), your Same Name Affidavit must be notarized by a licensed Saudi notary public and authenticated by relevant Ministry of Justice representatives. The Law of Public Notarization requires specific formatting, official stamps, and proper witness signatures where applicable. For international use, you'll need additional authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and potentially from Saudi embassies or consulates in the destination country. The National Identity Card Law mandates that all identity information matches your official Saudi identification documents. If your affidavit involves translated documents, you must use certified translation services approved by Saudi authorities, and all foreign documents require proper legalization through Saudi diplomatic missions before the affidavit can reference them in legal proceedings.
Governing law
Applicable law
This Same Name Affidavit Form is drafted to comply with Saudi Arabia law. Key legislation includes:
Law of Public Notarization: Regulates the authentication and notarization of legal documents, including affidavits, in Saudi Arabia
National Identity Card Law: Regulates the issuance and use of national identity cards, which are crucial for identity verification in legal documents
Law of Procedure Before Sharia Courts (Royal Decree No. M/1): Provides guidelines for legal procedures and documentation requirements in Saudi courts, including requirements for sworn statements and affidavits
Anti-Forgery Law: Contains provisions against false documentation and fraudulent identity claims, relevant for ensuring the legitimacy of same name declarations