Affirmation may be made instead of oath
5 Affirmation may be made instead of oath
If under this Act or any other law or the exercise of the Royal Prerogative a person has to or may take an oath, the person is entitled to affirm instead.
If under this Act or any other law or the exercise of the Royal Prerogative a person has to take an oath and —
the person says that the taking of an oath is contrary to his or her religious belief or conscience; or
it is not reasonably practicable, without inconvenience or delay, at the time when and place where the oath has to be taken, to administer to the person an oath in a manner and form that will bind the person’s conscience; or
for any other sufficient reason the taking of an oath is found not to be appropriate,
the person may be required to affirm instead.
An affirmation made instead of an oath has the same force and effect as the oath.
The form of the affirmation is as follows —
I sincerely declare and affirm ... ,
which words replace those set out in section 4(1) as the beginning of any oath.
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