# Title 31 — Judicial Proof

## Chapter 31-15 — Uniform Unsworn Domestic Declarations Act

### § 31-15-01. Definitions.

In this chapter:
1. "Boundaries of the United States" means the geographic boundaries of the United
States, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any territory or insular
possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
2. "Law" includes a statute, judicial decision or order, rule of court, executive order, and
administrative rule, regulation, or order.
3. "Record" means information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an electronic
or other medium and which is retrievable in perceivable form.
4. "Sign" means with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:
a. To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or
b. To attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or
process.
5. "Sworn declaration" means a declaration in a signed record given under oath. The
term includes a sworn statement, verification, certificate, and affidavit.
6. "Unsworn declaration" means a declaration in a signed record not given under oath
but given under penalty of perjury.
### § 31-15-02. Applicability.

This chapter applies to an unsworn declaration by a declarant who at the time of making the
declaration is physically located within the boundaries of the United States.
### § 31-15-03. Validity of unsworn declaration.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, if a law of this state requires or permits
use of a sworn declaration, an unsworn declaration meeting the requirements of this
chapter has the same effect as a sworn declaration.
2. This chapter does not apply to:
a. A deposition;
b. An oath of office;
c. An oath required to be given before a specified official other than a notary public;
d. A document intended for recording in the real estate records in the office of
county recorder; or
e. An oath required by section 30.1-08-04.
### § 31-15-04. Required medium.

If a law of this state requires a sworn declaration be presented in a particular medium, an
unsworn declaration must be presented in that medium.
### § 31-15-05. Form of unsworn declaration.

An unsworn declaration under this chapter must be substantially in the following form:
I declare, under penalty of perjury under the law of North Dakota, that the foregoing is true
and correct.
Signed on the _____ day of _______, _______ at ____________________, ___________
(month) (year) (city or other location, and state) (country)
________________________________
(printed name)
________________________________
(signature)

### § 31-15-06. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

This chapter modifies, limits, or supercedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and
National Commerce Act [15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.] but does not modify, limit, or supersede
section 101(c) of that Act [15 U.S.C. 7001(c)], or authorize electronic delivery of any of the
notices described in section 103(b) of that Act [15 U.S.C. 7003(b)].
