diff --git a/src/server/forms/register-as-a-unicorn-breeder.yaml b/src/server/forms/register-as-a-unicorn-breeder.yaml
index ff8408dde..a92b727ab 100644
--- a/src/server/forms/register-as-a-unicorn-breeder.yaml
+++ b/src/server/forms/register-as-a-unicorn-breeder.yaml
@@ -240,7 +240,8 @@ pages:
         title: Declaration
         type: DeclarationField
         content: 'Fill in this field'
-        options: {}
+        options:
+          required: false
     next:
       - path: '/summary'
 conditions:
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.test.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.test.ts
index 461556a1a..ffa163cb8 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.test.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.test.ts
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ describe('DeclarationField', () => {
         const payload2 = field.getFormDataFromState(state2)
 
         expect(payload1).toEqual(getFormData('true'))
-        expect(payload2).toEqual(getFormData('unchecked'))
+        expect(payload2).toEqual(getFormData('false'))
       })
 
       it('returns value from state', () => {
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ describe('DeclarationField', () => {
         const value2 = field.getFormValueFromState(state2)
 
         expect(value1).toBe('true')
-        expect(value2).toBe('unchecked')
+        expect(value2).toBe('false')
       })
 
       it('returns context for conditions and form submission', () => {
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.ts
index c0b07c8f0..e2930155e 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/components/DeclarationField.ts
@@ -68,12 +68,12 @@ export class DeclarationField extends FormComponent {
 
   getFormValueFromState(state: FormSubmissionState) {
     const { name } = this
-    return state[name] === true ? 'true' : 'unchecked'
+    return state[name] === true ? 'true' : 'false'
   }
 
   getFormDataFromState(state: FormSubmissionState): FormPayload {
     const { name } = this
-    return { [name]: state[name] === true ? 'true' : 'unchecked' }
+    return { [name]: state[name] === true ? 'true' : 'false' }
   }
 
   getStateFromValidForm(payload: FormPayload): FormState {