Which entities are authorized to administer oaths for a complaint?

• A. court clerks, deputy clerks, and city secretaries
• B. only judges
• C. only prosecutors
• D. only defendants

Answer: (A)

Oaths for a complaint are given by officials who have the authority to administer oaths for filings and official records. In many municipal and court settings, that duty falls to court clerks, deputy clerks, and city secretaries. They are the ones who officially swear to the truth of the statements in the complaint as part of the filing process, making the document an official sworn record. Judges preside over cases but don’t typically administer the oath on the filing itself, prosecutors aren’t the ones who administer oaths for the complaint, and defendants aren’t the appropriate officials to administer it. Because clerks, deputy clerks, and city secretaries are the designated officials for this task, they are the correct choice.