trying to figure out this contracts affidavit and conditional partial release. The apartment complex asked the contractor to fill it out and have it notorized- is the contractor the affiant?
An "affiant" is the person who is swearing to an affidavit. So, whoever is signing the affidavit and swearing to the contents is the affiant.
In a case in which a construction participant is required/requested to provide a notarized lien waiver, that construction participant would be affiant. Note, however, that there are only three states in which a lien waiver is required to be notarized.