Declaration of independence

assertion by a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state

A declaration of independence is a claim of independence of an aspiring state or states. States like these are usually formed from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the parent state.

Declarations of independence are typically made without the consent of the parent state, and hence are sometimes called unilateral declarations of independence (UDI), particularly by those who question the validity of the declarations.