A will-say statement is the summation of what a witness will testify to in court. Will-say statements are also referred to as witness statements. Both the defense and the prosecution have access to will-say statements to help prepare for the hearing. A will-say statement is often prepared by the witness herself or an attorney, but the attorney must present the events as the witness is describing them. Will-say statements must be an accurate reflection of what the witness will testify to and comply with court rules.
List the witness's information. Formats vary by court, but you typically need the witness's name, address, age -- or a statement she is over 18 -- and place of employment, if any. Include a summary of job duties, her field-related education and her title if the case is related to the employer or her work. Use one line for each item.
Read More: How to Draft a Witness Statement
List the items being sworn to. Use a new paragraph for each fact. For example, if the statement is describing a car accident, make a list of the events the witness saw in chronological order and include the accident details she is going to testify about, such as the license plate and her estimation of the car's speed. Group facts by subject in a large statement if possible. Use subheadings to divide facts by subject. For example, if the witness is testifying about the various policies of a business, subheadings might include "Hiring," "Termination" and "Bonuses."
Insert a sentence at the end of the statement affirming the contents are true. For example, "I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that all of the information on this statement is true" affirms that the statement represents the witness' version of events. Local laws might require specific wording on the will-say statement; check with the court handling the case or laws regarding witness statements to verify the necessary wording.
Compare the will-say statement to prior testimony of the witness, if any. Check for contradicting, incomplete or missed facts. Speak to the witness and revise as necessary. Have the witness look over the statement for inaccuracies.
Ask the witness to sign and date the statement after the sentence affirming its truth.
Have her signature notarized, if required by the court.
Tips
Court rules might require a number or letter for each new line or paragraph of the statement. Check the court rules for your area's format requirements.
Include a brief summary of previous testimony by the witness on the same matter, if any.
References
Writer Bio
Anna Assad began writing professionally in 1999 and has published several legal articles for various websites. She has an extensive real estate and criminal legal background. She also tutored in English for nearly eight years, attended Buffalo State College for paralegal studies and accounting, and minored in English literature, receiving a Bachelor of Arts.