What is Attest in Auditing?

Attest is a statement made by a certified public accountant that the financial statements of a client fairly represent the client’s financial results and financial position. The attest function of a CPA is highly valued by the investment community, which relies upon it to make investment decisions. In the absence of CPAs who attest to financial statements, investors and lenders would have no way of knowing if the financial statements they are shown are accurate.

What is Attest in Contracts?

The attest concept also applies to signing a contract or application. When you sign the document, you are attesting to the truth of the information included in the contract or application. This could represent a legal liability, if any of the information in the document turns out to be incorrect.