Attestation
An attestation is your signed statement on a claim form that your answers are true, usually made under penalty of perjury.
Also called: attest under penalty of perjury, declaration, claimant certification
An attestation is your signed statement on a claim form that your answers are true, usually made under penalty of perjury.
What it means
An attestation is a statement on a claim form in which you confirm that the information you gave is true. You sign it, or check a box that works as your signature. Many forms word it as a declaration "under penalty of perjury," which means that knowingly stating something false can have legal consequences.
Attestations are what let settlements pay people who have no receipts. Instead of a document, the administrator accepts your signed word that you bought the product or used the service in the class period. Federal law lets a written declaration made under penalty of perjury stand in for a sworn affidavit in many situations (28 U.S.C. § 1746), which is why you see this wording. State courts have their own versions.
What you confirm varies. Read the exact words above the signature: they may cover your class membership, a purchase, that you have only filed once, and that any documents you attach are genuine.
What it means for you
Sign only what is true. Administrators check claims, and a false or inflated attestation can get your claim rejected. In serious cases, knowingly false statements under penalty of perjury can lead to criminal charges. If you are unsure whether you qualify, read the class definition and the dates first. An honest mistake, like misremembering a date, is not the same as lying, but if you spot an error, contact the administrator to fix it before the deadline. Keep a copy of what you submitted.
Example
Say a no-receipt claim form asks you to confirm that you bought a product between 2019 and 2023 and have not filed another claim. You remember buying it several times, so you check the box, type your name and the date, and submit. If you had never bought it, you should not sign, because the statement would be false.
FAQ
It means you are stating that your answers are true, and you understand that knowingly false statements can be punished under perjury laws. Federal law allows this kind of signed declaration to take the place of a sworn affidavit in many cases.
Federal perjury law applies to statements made willfully, meaning on purpose, about something you do not believe is true. An honest mistake, such as misremembering a date, is different. If you notice an error, contact the settlement administrator and correct it.
Related terms
- 28 U.S.C. § 1746, unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury (Cornell LII)
- 18 U.S.C. § 1621, perjury (Cornell LII)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.