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OATHS ACT 1867 - As at 1 February 2024 - Act 12 of 1867

OATHS ACT 1867


- As at 1 February 2024 
- Act 12 of 1867 

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

   1A.     Short title
   1B.     Definitions

   PART 2 - OATHS OF OFFICE AND ALLEGIANCE

   1.      Oath substituted for the oaths and declaration now prescribed by law
   2.      Before whom the oath may be taken
   3.      Oaths for justices of the peace and others
   4.      Name of the Sovereign
   5.      Affirmation in lieu of oath
   5A.     Form of oath of allegiance

   PART 3 - DECLARATIONS SUBSTITUTED FOR CERTAIN OFFICIAL OATHS

   6.      Declarations substituted for oaths and affirmations
   7.      Act not to extend to oath of allegiance
   8.      Nor to oaths in judicial proceeding
   9.      Such substitution to be notified in gazette
   10.     Oaths or affirmations not to be made or taken thereafter

   PART 4 - AFFIDAVITS AND STATUTORY DECLARATIONS

           Division 1 - Preliminary

   11.     Definitions for part
   12.     Special witnesses
   13.     References to witnesses, signatories and substitute signatories

           Division 2 - General requirements for affidavits and declarations

   13AA.   Application of division
   13AB.   Execution requirements
   13A.    Accepted method for electronically signing affidavit or declaration
   13B.    Jurat of affidavit
   13C.    Statement in declaration
   13D.    General requirements for witnessing affidavit or declaration
   13E.    Information to be included about witness
   13F.    Minor non-compliance does not affect validity of affidavit or declaration
   13G.    Substitute signatories
   13H.    Witnessing signature of substitute signatory
   14.     Form of declaration
   15.     Fees payable

           Division 3 - Signing in physical presence of witness

   16.     Application of division
   16A.    Who may witness affidavits
   16B.    Who may witness declarations
   16C.    Affidavit or declaration electronically signed in physical presence of witness
   16D.    Effect of affidavit or declaration electronically signed in physical presence of witness

   PART 5 - SOLEMN AFFIRMATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

   17.     Affirmation instead of oath in certain cases
   18.     Quakers and Moravians permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration instead of oath
   19.     Separatists instead of an oath may make the following affirmation
   20.     (Repealed)

   PART 6 - OTHER OATHS

   21.     Swearing of jurors in civil trials
   22.     Swearing of jurors in criminal trials
   23.     Witnesses’ oath in civil causes
   23A.    Witnesses’ oath in proceedings not otherwise specified
   24.     Voire dire
   25.     Witnesses’ oath on criminal trials
   26.     Interpreters’ oath in civil causes
   27.     Interpreters’ oath in civil causes on the voire dire
   28.     Interpreters’ oath for the arraignment—to interpret between prisoner and others
   29.     Interpreter’s oath to interpret between a prisoner, defendant or witness and others
   30.     Where witness and prisoner are of different languages—first interpreter’s oaths
   30A.    Intermediaries’ oath
   31.     Oath of bailiff in charge of jury
   31A.    Oath of police officer assisting bailiff in charge of jury

   PART 6A - AUDIO VISUAL LINKS

           Division 1 - Preliminary

   31B.    Definitions for part
   31C.    References to witnesses, signatories and substitute signatories
   31CA.   Part does not limit other laws

           Division 2 - Affidavits

   31D.    Application of division
   31E.    Presence by audio visual link
   31F.    Affidavit may be in form of electronic document and electronically signed
   31G.    Admission of affidavit not complying with requirements
   31H.    Disapplication of s 33

           Division 3 - Declarations

   31I.    Application of division
   31J.    Presence by audio visual link
   31K.    Declaration may be in form of electronic document and electronically signed
   31L.    Disapplication of s 33

           Division 4 - Oaths and affirmations

   31M.    Application of division
   31N.    Presence by audio visual link
   31O.    Disapplication of s 33

           Division 5 - Signing or witnessing documents by audio visual link

              Subdivision 1A - Preliminary

   31OA.   Application of division

              Subdivision 1 - Requirements about signing documents by audio visual link

   31P.    Who may be a substitute signatory
   31Q.    Substitute signatory signing in physical presence of witness requires special witness or another prescribed person
   31R.    (Repealed)

              Subdivision 2 - Requirements about witnessing documents by audio visual link

   31S.    Witness must be special witness or another prescribed person
   31T.    General requirements for witnessing documents
   31U.    Confirmation of signed document by witness
   31V.    Action after witness confirms document

              Subdivision 3 - Other provisions

   31W.    When document starts to be effective
   31X.    Presumptions
   31Y.    Documents made using official and original physical versions
   31Z.    Documents made using counterparts
   31ZA.   Lodgement or deposit of document in land registry or water allocations register
   31ZB.   Audio visual recording of signing or witnessing of document

   PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS

   32.     General provision
   33.     Special provision as to oaths
   34.     (Repealed)
   35.     Mode of binding interpreters to interpreting certain cases
   36.     Interruption of trial by reason of failure of interpreters not to entitle to acquittal
   37.     Mode of taking evidence of persons objecting or incompetent to take an oath
   38.     Interpreters
   39.     Mode of taking evidence of witness who can not be sworn in manner required by witness’s religion—schedule
   40.     Interpreter
   42.     Mode of pleading affirmation instead of oath
   43.     References to Oaths Act Amendment Acts
   43A.    Regulation made by Police Legislation (Efficiencies and Effectiveness) Amendment Act 2022
   44.     Regulation-making power

   PART 8 - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

           Division 1 - Transitional provisions for Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021

   45.     Definitions for division
   46.     Repealed regulation continues to apply to affidavit or declaration in particular circumstances
   47.     Repealed regulation continues to apply to particular documents

           Division 2 - Transitional provision for Domestic and Family Violence Protection (Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023

   48.     Retrospective application of s 13F
           SCHEDULE - Form of solemn affirmation