A verification is a sworn statement that a pleading is true to the knowledge of the deponent; with minor exceptions, pleadings need not be verified, but if a pleading is verified, each subsequent pleading must be verified, unless the matter is privileged. For subsequent pleadings, what must occur?

• A. They must be verified, unless privileged
• B. They may be unverified
• C. They must be certified by a notary
• D. They require no verification at all

Answer: (A)

In New York practice, a verification is a sworn statement that the pleading is true to the deponent’s knowledge. If a pleading is verified, every subsequent pleading must also be verified, with the only exception being matters that are privileged. So for later pleadings, the rule is that they must be verified unless the portion involved is privileged. This keeps the record under oath throughout the case and prevents unsworn allegations from following a verified filing. The other options don’t fit: unverified subsequent pleadings would ignore the required continuity of the oath; notary certification isn’t the governing rule for verification; and having no verification at all contradicts the requirement once an earlier pleading was verified.