3. As a result, there will be some requirements that must be met. If you are being asked to write this to help show someones innocence then you should clearly state this. In our example, we will be assuming the Defendant has already been found guilty or plead guilty and our goal will be to ask for leniency on his or her behalf.Next, we will need to establish the Defendants character. Do not write about events that you did not directly see, hear or otherwise perceive yourself. Provide specific examples of good deeds the defendant has done. All rights reserved. The third paragraph should acknowledge the Defendants mistake and, if relevant, mention any steps the Defendant has taken to change their lives. That's hilarious. Begin by telling the judge when you first met the defendant and how long you have known them. For discovery purposes, a process where both sides disclose what they plan to bring into evidence, a witness statement acts as a synopsis of what is expected from that witness. Otherwise, some basic rules will be helpful, such as naming the case and adding the case number on the first page. Identify your ultimate objective You may wish to include a statement declaring his or her character in some way. In the second paragraph, try to define the Defendant as having some value to the community he or she is in as well as his or her impact on your life as well. How to Support Your VA Claim with a Lay Statement - Woods and Woods Since a witness statement should contain a statement of truth, it will be more difficult for a witness to later change his or her story. <>>> When preparing a witness statement it is helpful to follow certain guidelines. Both parents can submit a character reference letter as part of this paperwork. When selecting an individual who will write a character reference, it is important to select someone that has known you for a long period of time and also someone that the court will respect. We are unapologetic in our dedication to informing the public and unafraid to call out those who are more focused on profits than peoples safety. This article has been viewed 117,021 times. This is typically written as the name of the claimant or plaintiff, identified as such, followed by the word "and," then the name of the defendant, identified as the defendant. Richards has worked as a writer and journalist since 2005. If it can be proven that you lied in an affidavit, you can be prosecuted for perjury. This recent article outlines how you can write your statement in four simple stages. There is no standard form for a witness statement, but it should: start with the full name, address and occupation of the person making the statement. When asking someone to write a character reference letter for you: If you've been asked to write a character reference letter to a judge in a custody case, be sure you're clear on the court's requirements and exactly what your letter needs to include. 22 Free Character Witness Letter Examples & Templates In this example, we shall assume a somewhat informal Subject line. You should also understand why, so you can stick to the facts that will be relevant to resolving the contested issues. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Write-a-Character-Affidavit-for-Child-Custody-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-a-Character-Affidavit-for-Child-Custody-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Write-a-Character-Affidavit-for-Child-Custody-Step-1.jpg\/aid6508527-v4-728px-Write-a-Character-Affidavit-for-Child-Custody-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"