Perjury

If you lie in court, you can be jailed for up to 14 years. If you lie to get someone else convicted of a serious crime, you could be jailed for life.

When you need legal advice

Get legal advice if:

  • you have been charged with perjury.

How to get legal advice

What is perjury?

Anyone who deliberately gives false (untrue) evidence in any judicial proceeding is guilty of a crime called perjury.

What does 'judicial proceeding' cover?

Someone commits perjury if they lie in their evidence in a court or tribunal on any important issue. It applies to all courts including the family court.

What if I didn't realise I wasn't telling the truth?

You can't be guilty of perjury if you gave false evidence without knowing it.

Is it only perjury if I say it?

No, you can be guilty of perjury no matter how the false evidence is given. The false evidence can be:

  • spoken (e.g. in court testimony)
    or
  • written (e.g. in an affidavit or other court form).

What is the penalty for perjury?

Perjury is a very serious offence. The maximum penalty is 14 years in jail.

If the perjury was committed to try to get someone else convicted of a serious offence (one where the jail term is life imprisonment), then the person who committed the perjury can be jailed for life.

For example, if a witness in a murder trial lies to try to get the accused person convicted of murder, the witness can be jailed for life for perjuring themselves. This is because the sentence for murder is life imprisonment.

Can only adults be guilty of perjury?

No, children can commit perjury if they know the difference between telling the truth and lying, and they knew they were lying when they gave evidence.

How to get legal advice

What to do if you’ve been charged with an offence

We cannot provide you with a lawyer to attend a police interview.

We may give legal advice about perjury.

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Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.

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