{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/oaths-act-1978/section-5",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/oaths-act-1978/section-5.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/19",
  "legislation_title": "Oaths Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/oaths-act-1978",
  "path": "section/5",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "5",
  "heading": "Making of solemn affirmations.",
  "text": "(1) Any person who objects to being sworn shall be permitted to make his solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath.\n(2) Subsection (1) above shall apply in relation to a person to whom it is not reasonably practicable without inconvenience or delay to administer an oath in the manner appropriate to his religious belief as it applies in relation to a person objecting to be sworn.\n(3) A person who may be permitted under subsection (2) above to make his solemn affirmation may also be required to do so.\n(4) A solemn affirmation shall be of the same force and effect as an oath.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Court Martial Appeal Court Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2657), rule 15, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2041), rule 21"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Summary Hearing and Activation of Suspended Sentences of Service Detention) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1216), rule 14"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Summary Appeal Court) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1211), rule 28"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Service Civilian Court) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1209), rule 20"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Warrants of Arrest for Service Offences) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1110), rule 16"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "S. 3-6 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Custody Proceedings) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1098), rule 21"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "S. 5 applied (1.1.2004) by 1981 c. 61, s. 42(7) (as substituted by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 3, 162(2), Sch. 1, (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/3156, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/19/section/5",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:23:03.171315+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}