Family

A statement of when and where someone was born, and why no certificate says so. Used for delayed birth registration, school admissions, passport applications, and correcting a date already on record. Signed as a declaration, or sworn as an affidavit where the registrar asks for one.

A sworn statement that a document was lost, how, and that it has not been pledged or transferred — the first step in applying for a duplicate passport, certificate, share certificate or deed.

A sworn statement of whether you are unmarried, married, divorced or widowed. Used for visas, marriage registration, pension and insurance claims, and by foreign employers. Made by one person about their own status; for a declaration by both spouses together that they are married, use the Joint Declaration of Marriage.

A sworn statement of where you live, since when, and on what basis — owner, tenant, family member or paying guest. Used where the usual address proof is unavailable or is in someone else's name.

A sworn statement of what you earned in a financial year and where it came from. Used for scholarships, fee concessions, EWS applications and court-fee waivers, where no Form 16 or income certificate is available.

A statement by both spouses together that they are married — when, where, under what rites, and that the marriage subsists. Used for marriage registration, spouse visas, joint accounts and pension nominations. Signed by both, or sworn as a joint affidavit where the office asks for one. Made by both spouses jointly; for one person's own sworn statement of being unmarried, married, divorced or widowed, use the Declaration of Marital Status.

A sworn declaration about the deponent's name: either that a former name has been changed to a new one, or that two differently-spelt entries in the records denote one and the same person and no change ever occurred. Required by banks, passport offices, schools and employers before they will amend or reconcile their records, and never made to evade any liability.

A power of attorney authorising someone to operate named bank accounts on the grantor's behalf — sign cheques, deposit and withdraw, place deposits, obtain statements. The powers to close an account, borrow against it, change the nomination or alter who may operate it are expressly withheld. Note that most banks insist on their own mandate form as well as, or instead of, a general instrument.

A power of attorney authorising someone to look after a property on the owner's behalf — collect rent, pay taxes and society dues, arrange repairs, deal with the municipal office. The powers to sell, mortgage, gift or otherwise transfer are expressly withheld, which is what keeps it a management authority. Executed by the owner alone, attested by witnesses, and notarised or registered afterwards.

A power of attorney authorising someone to appear and act before a named authority on a named matter — the income-tax officer, the GST authorities, the revenue office, the RTO, a housing society. The powers to admit liability, settle, withdraw or receive money are expressly withheld. Not a vakalatnama: an advocate appearing in court acts under a different instrument.

A special power of attorney authorising someone to sell a named property on the owner's behalf and to execute and register the conveyance. It does not itself transfer anything — the registered sale deed does that. This instrument must itself be registered, because the act it authorises is compulsorily registrable, and notarisation is not a substitute.

A notice revoking a power of attorney, served on the attorney and on everyone who has been relying on it. Revoking the authority and telling people about it are two different things: under the Contract Act a revocation binds a third person only once they know of it, so service is what makes it bite. Where the power revoked was registered, a deed of revocation should be registered at the same office as well.