What Is a Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons?
A Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons is a sworn statement executed by two people who are not related to, and have no interest in, a person or matter, and who jointly attest to facts within their personal knowledge. Because the affiants have nothing to gain, their statement is treated as credible third-party evidence.
It is also searched for simply as an Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons or a Joint Affidavit of Disinterested Persons — the same document under shorter names — and Filipinos who know sworn documents by their Tagalog name will recognise it as one kind of Sinumpaang Salaysay: the same oath and the same legal weight, whether titled in English or in Filipino.
It is called a joint affidavit because both persons are affiants — each individually swears to the facts before the notary public and signs side by side.
Who Counts as a "Disinterested Person"?
A disinterested person is someone who:
- is not related to the subject within the fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; and
- has no financial, legal, or other interest in the matter being attested to.
Just as important, the two affiants must have personal knowledge of the facts they swear to — they cannot merely repeat what they heard from someone else. The whole value of the affidavit rests on credible, firsthand knowledge from people with no stake in the outcome.
When Do You Need One?
- Late / delayed registration — of a birth, death, or marriage with the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or PSA
- One-and-the-same-person — to establish that two differing names refer to the same individual
- Name or record discrepancy — supporting a correction of entries in civil-registry or other records
- Proof of residence — attesting to where a person has actually lived and since when
- Proof of relationship / family facts — supporting claims of parentage or family ties
Required Elements of the Affidavit
- Identity of both affiants — full names, civil status / description, citizenship, and addresses
- Personal-knowledge clause — that the affiants personally know the subject, and how they know them
- Disinterest clause — that they are not related within the fourth civil degree and have no interest in the matter
- Factual declarations — the specific facts the affiants personally know, each as its own numbered statement
- Purpose clause — why the affidavit is executed and, where relevant, the office it is for
- Jurat — the "SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN" block completed by the notary, identifying both affiants, plus the notarial register entries
State only what both affiants personally know to be true. An affidavit is a sworn statement, and a false declaration can expose the affiants to liability for perjury.
Free Sample — Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons
We, Pedro Reyes, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of 12 Narra Street, Barangay Malaya, Quezon City, and Maria Santos, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of 15 Acacia Street, Barangay Malaya, Quezon City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that:
1. That we personally know Juan Dela Cruz, being long-time neighbors of the Dela Cruz family;
2. That we are not related to Juan Dela Cruz within the fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, and we have no financial or other interest whatsoever in this matter;
3. That we have personally known Juan Dela Cruz since his birth;
4. That Juan Dela Cruz was born on March 3, 1995 at Quezon City;
5. That the birth of Juan Dela Cruz was not registered with the Local Civil Registrar within the reglementary period;
6. That the parents of Juan Dela Cruz are Ricardo Dela Cruz and Elena Dela Cruz;
7. That we are executing this Joint Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and for the purpose of the late registration of the birth of Juan Dela Cruz with the Local Civil Registrar, and for whatever legal purpose it may serve.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this January 15, 2026 at Quezon City, Philippines.
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this January 15, 2026 at Quezon City, Philippines, by the above-named affiants, Pedro Reyes who exhibited to me his/her Driver's License bearing No. N01-23-456789 issued on May 10, 2023 at Quezon City, and Maria Santos who exhibited to me his/her PhilSys ID bearing No. 1234-5678-9012 issued on June 5, 2022 at Quezon City.
Generate This Document Online — Free
Fill in the guided fields in Legalia and get a properly formatted Philippine document with the correct jurat block — ready to bring to your notary.
Generate FreeJoint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons vs. Joint Affidavit of Two Witnesses
The two terms overlap and offices often use them loosely, but there is a real distinction:
- Joint Affidavit of Two Witnesses — two people who witnessed an event swear to it together. Nothing is said about their relationship to the subject.
- Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons — adds the requirement that the affiants are unrelated to the subject and have no interest in the matter, stated in an express disinterest clause.
For late registration and civil-registry corrections, the "disinterested persons" form — with the disinterest clause — is what the LCR and PSA usually ask for. Confirm the exact wording the receiving office requires before filing.
Using It for Late Registration of Birth
For delayed registration of a birth, the LCR or PSA typically requires this affidavit from two disinterested persons who have personally known the child and the family — attesting to facts such as the date and place of birth, the names of the parents, and that the birth was not registered within the reglementary period. It is usually filed together with other supporting documents (for example, baptismal or school records). Requirements vary by office, so verify the current checklist with your LCR or PSA before you go.