CPD: Drafting an Affidavit:

Understand proper Affidavit drafting whereas this course:

• Will explain the legal purpose and admissibility requirements of Affidavit evidence in Ontario proceedings,
• Will review the rules and case law that govern proper structure, content, and formatting,
• Will demonstrate how to draft clear, concise, and persuasive Affidavit narratives that support legal arguments,
• Will identify common drafting errors that may lead to objections or reduced evidentiary value,
• Will address the proper handling and marking of exhibits, including practical examples and templates,

Expected Takeaways

The Drafting an Affidavit presentation explains the principles involved with, among other issues:

• The legal purpose and evidentiary role of an Affidavit within court proceedings;;
• The proper structure, format, and sequence of information, required within an Affidavit;
• The correct method for preparing and marking exhibits in compliance with Rule 4.06 of the Rules of Civil Procedure;
• The essential elements of a clear and credible narrative within Affidavit drafting;
• The identification and avoidance of common Affidavit errors and admissibility risks;
• The ethical considerations including truthfulness and disclosure limitations; and
• The practical use of drafting checklists, templates, and real-case examples.

Materials Included:

• A sixty (60) page handout containing extensive case law, fully cited, and linked to CanLII for convenient future use as quick reference secondary source material;
• An Affidavit Review Worksheet to assist in reviewing of whether an Affidavit properly follows drafting rules and legal principles;
• A sample Affidavit document for convenient future reference when drafting an Affidavit for use in Small Claims Court matters; and
• A more than two hour video of informative anecdotal discussion.