Florida Bail Bonds Practice Exam

What does false swearing refer to?

1. A verbal lie in court

2. A falsehood put in writing and sworn before a notary

3. An unintentional error in testimony

4. Withholding evidence

The correct answer is: A falsehood put in writing and sworn before a notary

False swearing refers to making a false statement in a legal context, particularly when it is done under oath. When an individual swears to the truth of a written document that contains false information, this act is recognized as false swearing. The key element here is that the individual has affirmed the truthfulness of the statement before a notary or another authorized official, which elevates the deceit to a more serious level because it pertains to sworn testimony or documentation. In this case, the person is misleading the court or any legal entity by submitting information that they have sworn to as true, although it is not. This is considered a serious offense as it undermines the integrity of the legal system, whereas a verbal lie in court (the first choice) may not necessarily involve an oath, and unintentional errors in testimony (the third choice) do not imply intentional deceit. Withholding evidence (the fourth choice) refers to non-disclosure rather than making a false statement. Therefore, the act of submitting a falsehood in writing, especially in a sworn statement, is the definitive characteristic of false swearing.