A statutory declaration (stat dec) usually must be witnessed by an authorised adult, not just any friend or family member.

Quick scoop: who can witness a stat dec?

In Australia, the exact rules depend on whether your stat dec is a Commonwealth one or a state/territory one, but the ideas are similar.

In general, a witness must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be on the official list of approved/authorised witnesses for that type of stat dec (Commonwealth or your state/territory).
  • Be reasonably satisfied of your identity (they should check ID if they don’t know you).
  • Not be signing their own stat dec, and should not be the person who stands to benefit from what’s in it (independence is strongly preferred).

Common examples of who can witness

For many Australian stat decs, typical approved witnesses include:

  • Justice of the Peace (JP).
  • Lawyer / legal practitioner.
  • Judge or magistrate.
  • Police officer.
  • Court registrar or CEO of a court.
  • Bank officer or bank manager with a set minimum period of service (often 5+ years).
  • Registered medical practitioner (doctor), dentist, nurse, chiropractor, optometrist.
  • Engineer (in a recognised professional category).
  • Accountant (often chartered or CPA, depending on the list).
  • Certain public servants or government employees above a particular level.
  • For Commonwealth declarations, a range of specific occupations and positions listed in the Statutory Declarations Regulations (for example, consular or diplomatic officers, defence force officers, some financial institution staff, marriage celebrants, etc.).

Some jurisdictions are more flexible. For example, the Northern Territory allows any adult (18+) to witness certain statutory declarations, but you must still follow the local rules and form requirements.

Why the exact list matters

Each of the following can change who is allowed to witness:

  • Whether it’s a Commonwealth stat dec or one for a state/territory law.
  • Which state or territory you are in (NSW, Vic, Qld, etc.).
  • Whether the organisation requiring the stat dec has its own policy (for example, some will only accept lawyers or JPs even if the law technically allows others).

Because of that, it’s important to:

  • Use the correct form for your jurisdiction.
  • Check the current official list of witnesses on the relevant government or attorney‑general website for your area.

Can friends, family, or a boss witness?

This depends on whether they meet the criteria above.

  • If your friend/family member or boss happens to be an authorised person (for example, a JP, doctor, lawyer, or public servant at the right level), then yes, they can usually witness, as long as they act in that official capacity.
  • If they are not on the approved list, then they cannot validly witness the stat dec, even if they know you well.
  • Best practice is that your witness be independent and not someone directly benefiting from the contents, especially in matters like trusts, disputes, or financial arrangements.

Simple illustration

Imagine you’re in Victoria filling in a stat dec about a lost item for an insurance claim. You could get it witnessed by your local JP at a community centre, a practising solicitor, or your GP (if they’re on the approved list), but you couldn’t just ask your next‑door neighbour unless they hold one of those recognised roles.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.