---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5712"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "5712"
heading: "Validity of affidavits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/5712"
units:
  - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 57 — Records and Investigations"
  - "Subchapter II — Investigations"
---

# §5712. Validity of affidavits


Any such oath, affirmation, affidavit, or examination, when certified under the hand of any such employee by whom it was administered or taken and authenticated by the seal of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), may be offered or used in any court of the United States and without further proof of the identity or authority of such employee shall have like force and effect as if administered or taken before a clerk of such court.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1237, § 3312; renumbered § 5712, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3312 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.