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RCWs
>
Title 5
>
Chapter 5.28
Chapter Listing
Chapter
5.28
RCW
OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS
Sections
HTML
PDF
5.28.010
Who may administer.
HTML
PDF
5.28.020
How administered.
HTML
PDF
5.28.030
Form may be varied.
HTML
PDF
5.28.040
Form may be adapted to religious belief.
HTML
PDF
5.28.050
Form of affirmation.
HTML
PDF
5.28.060
Affirmation equivalent to oath.
NOTES:
Rules of court:
Cf. ER 603; CR 43(d).
Oaths and mode of administering: State Constitution Art. 1 s 6.
PDF
RCW
5.28.010
Who may administer.
Every court, judge, clerk of a court, state-certified court reporter, or notary public, is authorized to take testimony in any action, suit or proceeding, and such other persons in particular cases as authorized by law. Every such court or officer is authorized to collect fees established under RCW
36.18.020
and
36.18.012
through
36.18.018
and to administer oaths and affirmations generally and to every such other person in such particular case as authorized.
[
2010 c 98 s 1
;
1995 c 292 s 1
;
1987 c 202 s 124
; 2 H. C. s 1693;
1869 p 378 s 1
; RRS s 1264.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
1987 c 202:
See note following RCW
2.04.190
.
Oath of witness in superior court to be administered by judge:
Rules of court:
Cf. CR 43(d).
Powers of courts, judicial officers to administer oaths: RCW
2.28.010
,
2.28.060
.
PDF
RCW
5.28.020
How administered.
An oath may be administered as follows: The person who swears holds up his or her hand, while the person administering the oath thus addresses him or her: "You do solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give in the issue (or matter) now pending between . . . . . . . . and . . . . . . . . shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God." If the oath be administered to any other than a witness giving testimony, the form may be changed to: "You do solemnly swear you will true answers make to such questions as you may be asked," etc.
[
2011 c 336 s 132
; 2 H. C. s 1694;
1869 p 378 s 2
; RRS s 1265.]
PDF
RCW
5.28.030
Form may be varied.
Whenever the court or officer before which a person is offered as a witness is satisfied that he or she has a peculiar mode of swearing connected with or in addition to the usual form of administration, which, in witness' opinion, is more solemn or obligatory, the court or officer may, in its discretion, adopt that mode.
[
2011 c 336 s 133
; 2 H. C. s 1695;
1869 p 379 s 3
; RRS s 1266.]
PDF
RCW
5.28.040
Form may be adapted to religious belief.
When a person is sworn who believes in any other than the Christian religion, he or she may be sworn according to the peculiar ceremonies of his or her religion, if there be any such.
[
2011 c 336 s 134
; 2 H. C. s 1696;
1869 p 379 s 4
; RRS s 1267.]
PDF
RCW
5.28.050
Form of affirmation.
Any person who has conscientious scruples against taking an oath, may make his or her solemn affirmation, by assenting, when addressed, in the following manner: "You do solemnly affirm that," etc., as in RCW
5.28.020
.
[
2011 c 336 s 135
; 2 H. C. s 1697;
1869 p 379 s 5
; RRS s 1268.]
PDF
RCW
5.28.060
Affirmation equivalent to oath.
Whenever an oath is required, an affirmation, as prescribed in RCW
5.28.050
is to be deemed equivalent thereto, and a false affirmation is to be deemed perjury, equally with a false oath.
[2 H. C. s1698;
1869 p 379 s 6
; RRS s 1269.]
NOTES:
Perjury: Chapter
9A.72
RCW.
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