The ROD 20 - Spousal Affidavit is a sworn statement published by the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) under the Recorder of Deeds heading. Both spouses print their names, state that they are presently married to each other as recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia, sign, and have a notary complete the jurat. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by OTR at otr.cfo.dc.gov.
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What is ROD 20?
ROD 20 - Spousal Affidavit is a one-page sworn statement issued by the Government of the District of Columbia, Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), in which two people declare under oath that they are presently married to each other, as recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia.
The form is headed "Recorder of Deeds" and prints the office address, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, and the phone number (202)727-5374. At the top it has boxes for Square, Suffix and Lot. Below them are two name lines, Print Name of Spouse 1 and Print Name of Spouse 2.
The body of the affidavit says that each affiant is duly sworn and affirms under penalty of law that the statement is correct and true to the best of their knowledge and belief. The affiants also acknowledge that any false statement or misrepresentation on the form is punishable by criminal penalties under the laws of the District of Columbia.
The form closes with a signature line for each spouse and a notary block: "Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of , 20", a line for the Notary Public, and My Commission Expires. The OTR page lists it as a Spousal Affidavit among its publications.
Who needs to file ROD 20?
The form is written for two spouses who are presently married to each other as recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia and who need to state that fact under oath. Both spouses are affiants: each prints a name, and each signs on a separate signature line.
Points the form itself makes clear:
- Two people complete the form together. It has no version for a single signer.
- The statement is sworn, so a notary public completes the "Subscribed and sworn to before me" block.
- Each affiant accepts that a false statement or misrepresentation is punishable by criminal penalties under DC law.
The form does not describe any other eligibility rule, and it does not say that anyone may sign for a spouse. If you are not sure that the form fits your situation, call the number printed under the Recorder of Deeds heading, (202)727-5374.
How to fill out ROD 20
Enter Square, Suffix and Lot
At the top of the form, fill in the Square, Suffix and Lot boxes next to the Recorder of Deeds heading.
Print the name of Spouse 1
On the line Print Name of Spouse 1, print the first spouse's full name.
Print the name of Spouse 2
On the line Print Name of Spouse 2, print the other spouse's full name.
Read the sworn statement
Both spouses read that they are presently married to each other as recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia, and that false statements are punishable by criminal penalties.
Sign for each spouse
Each spouse signs on their own line: Signature - Spouse 1 and Signature - Spouse 2.
Have a notary complete the block
The notary fills in the day, month and year in "Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of , 20", signs as Notary Public and enters My Commission Expires.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that both names match and every line is complete, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit ROD 20
The form prints the Recorder of Deeds office at 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, with the phone number (202)727-5374. It prints no separate mailing address, portal or appointment rule.
Before you take the form anywhere, both spouses must have signed and the notary must have completed the sworn block. The OTR page for the form is https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/publication/rod-20-spousal-affidavit. For how the office accepts the completed affidavit, call (202)727-5374. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Printing only one spouse's name, or leaving one of the two signature lines blank; the affidavit is sworn by both spouses.
- Skipping the notary block: the form is subscribed and sworn before a notary public, with the day, month, year and commission expiration completed.
- Leaving the Square, Suffix and Lot boxes at the top empty when they apply to your record.
- Swearing that you are married when the marriage is not recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia; false statements are punishable by criminal penalties under DC law.
- Signing for a spouse; the form has a separate signature line for each affiant and names no one who may sign on their behalf.
- Sending the form without checking with the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374 how it accepts the affidavit, since the form prints no submission channel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ROD 20 Spousal Affidavit?
ROD 20 is a DC Office of Tax and Revenue form in which two spouses swear that they are presently married to each other, as recognized by the laws of the District of Columbia. It is headed Recorder of Deeds and ends with a notary block.
Do both spouses have to sign the Spousal Affidavit?
Yes. The form has a name line and a signature line for each spouse, and the text says both affiants are duly sworn. The form names no one who may sign on a spouse's behalf.
Does the ROD 20 have to be notarized?
Yes. The form ends with "Subscribed and sworn to before me," a Notary Public line and a My Commission Expires line, so a notary public completes that block after the spouses sign.
What happens if I put false information on the ROD 20?
The affidavit states that any false statement or misrepresentation on the form is punishable by criminal penalties under the laws of the District of Columbia. Each affiant affirms the statement under penalty of law.
Where is the Recorder of Deeds that issues the ROD 20?
The form prints the Recorder of Deeds address as 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, and the phone number (202)727-5374. Call that number to ask how the office accepts the completed affidavit.
Can I fill out the ROD 20 Spousal Affidavit online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of OTR and does not file or notarize the form; the notary and your delivery to the agency follow OTR's channels.
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