Page "Affidavit" Paragraph 10

In American jurisprudence, under the rules for hearsay, admission of an unsupported affidavit as evidence is unusual ( especially if the affiant is not available for cross-examination ) with regard to material facts which may be dispositive of the matter at bar.

Affidavits from persons who are dead or otherwise incapacitated, or who cannot be located or made to appear may be accepted by the court, but usually only in the presence of corroborating evidence.

An affidavit which reflected a better grasp of the facts close in time to the actual events may be used to refresh a witness's recollection.

Materials used to refresh recollection are admissible as evidence.

If the affiant is a party in the case, the affiant's opponent may be successful in having the affidavit admitted as evidence, as statements by a party-opponent are admissible through an exception to the hearsay rule.