affidavits and statements

making a statement to the police should never be taken lightly. once you make that statement, you are considered a witness and are now part of the case. if you decide to make a statement, do not do it alone. you should bring a friend, community support worker, or your lawyer with you to the station. if you are underage, you'll need to bring an adult with you. if english is not your first language, you should ask for a translator. you should try to make an appointment in advance if you can. ask for a copy of your statement. you can request that you are willing to provide a statement but do not want to be further involved in the case.

you may be asked for proof of income if you are looking for financing or to rent a home. whether you work a traditional salary job or are a freelance worker, there are ways to prove your income.

documents that can be used to prove income:

• pay stubs
• w-2s, 1099s and tax returns
• bank statements
• letter from employer
• social security statements
• annuity statements
• interest and dividend income statement
• workman's comp, severance or unemployment statements

before going through probate, it will need to be determined if the will is valid. while state laws vary, generally there are a few ways to prove a will is valid. generally, the will must be in writing and signed and dated by the will-maker and witnesses. it helps if the witnesses also sign a sworn statement with a notary stating that they witnessed the document being signed. the witnesses should be adults and not coerced to sign. in most cases, the only type of will that does not require witness signatures is called a "holographic will." this type of will is written by hand entirely by the will maker and signed and dated by the will maker.