Statement of truth

The short declaration at the end of a court document that turns your account of the facts into something you are personally accountable for — get it wrong on purpose and the consequences go beyond losing the case.

Do I have to sign a statement of truth myself, or can my solicitor sign it for me?

For most documents, either you or a legal representative acting for you can sign the statement of truth. For witness statements specifically, the statement must be signed by the witness giving the evidence personally, not by their representative, because it is that person's own account being verified.

What actually happens if I get a fact wrong by mistake?

An honest mistake is not contempt of court. Contempt requires knowledge that the statement is false, or recklessness as to whether it is true. If you realise a document you have signed contains an error, the safer course is to correct it formally as soon as possible rather than leave it uncorrected.

Can the other side challenge my statement of truth?

Yes. If the other party believes a document containing a false statement of truth was submitted, they can apply to the court for permission to bring contempt proceedings under Part 32.14 of the Civil Procedure Rules. This is separate from, and in addition to, any findings the judge makes about credibility during the case itself.

Does every court document need a statement of truth?

No. Only documents listed in Civil Procedure Rules Part 22 require one — chiefly statements of case (such as particulars of claim and defences), witness statements, and expert reports. Correspondence, skeleton arguments, and most other documents do not need one.

What wording does the statement of truth actually use?

The standard wording is: "I believe that the facts stated in this [document] are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth." The exact form is set out in Practice Direction 22.

What if I need to rely on someone else's account of the facts, not my own?

You can still sign a statement of truth for a statement of case as a litigant in person, but you should only confirm facts you honestly believe to be true. If part of your claim depends on someone else's first-hand knowledge, it is generally better practice for that person to provide their own witness statement, verified with their own statement of truth.

Why the courts require it

Small claims hearings are often decided on competing written accounts of what happened, sometimes without either side calling live evidence in detail. A statement of truth exists to make sure those written accounts carry some real weight. Once you sign one, you are not simply describing your version of events — you are formally certifying that you believe it to be true, on the record, in a document the court will rely on.

This matters for both sides. If you are the claimant, a properly verified particulars of claim carries more credibility than an unverified letter. If you are defending a claim, a defence backed by a statement of truth similarly signals that you are willing to stand behind your account, not just deny the claim in general terms.

Which documents need one

• Particulars of claim, defences and replies filed in the claim must be verified — the claim form itself includes the statement, or it can be added at the end of the particulars.
• Any witness statement relied on as evidence must be signed personally by the witness whose evidence it contains, not by a representative.
• Where a case involves expert evidence, the expert's own report must carry its own statement of truth, confirming their opinions are genuinely held.
• Application notices, in some cases.
• Where an application notice contains evidence in support, that evidence generally needs a statement of truth too.

A claimant files particulars of claim setting out that a builder was paid in full but never completed agreed work. The particulars end with a signed statement of truth. During the hearing, the builder produces evidence showing part of the described work was in fact finished, contradicting one specific paragraph.

This does not automatically mean the claimant has committed contempt of court — a genuine mistake, or an honestly held but ultimately incorrect belief, is not the same as knowingly signing a false statement. What it does mean is that the judge may treat the rest of the claimant’s account with more caution, because one verified fact has turned out to be wrong. Deliberately including a fact the claimant knew to be false would be a much more serious matter, potentially leading to a committal application under Part 32.14.

Particulars of claim

Civil Procedure Rules, Part 22

Practice Direction 22

Civil Procedure Rules, Part 32

Statement of Truth — Small Claims Glossary

What a statement of truth is, which court documents need one, who must sign it, and what happens if a fact turns out to be wrong.