The claimant shall prepare such an affidavit as is set forth in Section 3 of this act,¹ or, at his request, the clerk of said court shall draft the same for him. Such affidavit may be presented by the claimant in person or sent to the clerk by mail. Upon receipt of said affidavit, properly sworn to, the clerk shall file the same and make a true and correct copy thereof, and the clerk shall fill in the blanks in the order printed on said copy and sign the order.