Does the statement of truth need a witness?

No. It is not sworn, so no solicitor or commissioner for oaths is involved.

Forms · 4 min read

The statement of truth: what you are actually signing

The statement of truth replaced the sworn oath. There is no solicitor or commissioner involved, which makes it easier — and easier to sign without reading.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

What you are confirming

That the will submitted is the deceased's last will
That you will collect in the estate, pay the debts and distribute according to law
That the values given are correct to the best of your knowledge and belief
That you will keep full accounts and produce them to the court if required

Who signs

Applicant	Signs?
Each executor applying for the grant	Yes
Executor with power reserved	No
Executor who has renounced	No, they sign PA15 or PA16 instead
Each administrator applying on an intestacy	Yes

It carries real consequences

Signing a statement of truth without an honest belief in its contents is contempt of court. In practice the risk is not fraud but carelessness — signing values you have not checked.

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

Check if I can do probate myself

Before you sign

Reconcile the values against the letters from each asset holder
Confirm every executor named in the will is accounted for
Check the deceased's name matches the death certificate exactly, or explain any difference
Keep a copy of everything you relied on

GOV.UK — Applying for probate

Common questions

Does the statement of truth need a witness?: No. It is not sworn, so no solicitor or commissioner for oaths is involved.

Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?

The free suitability checker asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, and tells you in a few minutes whether a self-help route is sensible — or whether you should speak to a solicitor. No account needed.

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