New York becomes the latest state to allow certain written statements to be made under penalty of perjury rather than be sworn before a Notary. Similar unsworn declaration laws have been adopted by the federal government, and in many states. Proponents of Assembly 5772 argued that the notarization requirement for documents in civil proceedings was a barrier to accessing justice for some New Yorkers.
The NNA wishes these laws were not necessary because we believe that a notarial act always imparts a layer of security to any document transaction, or in this case, an oath or affirmation made before a Notary. The NNA does recognize that not everyone is able to access a Notary at a time of need, and that in cases like the ones Assembly 5572 addresses, another option is necessary.