• Notarizations
• Commissioner of Oaths
• Certified True Copies
• Electronic Document Certification

A Commissioner of Oaths is a person who is authorized by the Province of Ontario to take an oath when you sign a statutory declaration or an affidavit. 

This authority is granted to the commissioner of oaths under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. The commissioner of oaths is not responsible for the content of the statutory declaration or affidavit.

A Commissioner of Oaths and a Notary Public are two different positions. They perform some common functions, but there are some material differences in their legal authority. A commissioner of oaths has limited authority when compared with a notary public. If a document is to be “notarized” as opposed to “commissioned”, you will have to visit the office of a Notary Public. 

In Ontario, a Notary Public is appointed and authorized under the Notaries Act to commission documents, certify or notarize documents as true copies, and verify signatures. Most lawyers in Ontario also act as notary public. As such, they possess the qualifications and skills necessary to practice law and offer legal advice as well as writing and preparing legal documentation.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, effective March 16, 2020, the Law Society of Ontario, Canada, has changed its rules to enable paralegals to commission documents online through video and online signing applications. 

This change in the law is implemented to enable paralegals to remotely commission, notarize and attest different documents keeping in view social distancing measures being observed in society.

Our online notary service is fast, reliable, and convenient. It is fully digital and your documents will be remotely notarized or commissioned by our licensed Notary Public and Oath Commissioner. The whole process is secure and time-saving.

A Commissioner of Oaths is authorized to sign statutory declarations and affidavits, for example:

• Child travel consent letter
• pension plan documents
• Insurance proof loss forms
• Vehicle transfers
• Residency declarations
• Change or proof of vehicle ownership
• Statutory declarations on government-related forms

• Documents that need to be certified
• Forms that call upon a Commissioner of Oaths, and also request certified true copies of other documents as attachments. The Commissioner cannot certify attachments and therefore cannot sign the forms.
• If the document specifically states “Notary” and does not offer the option of a Commissioner of Oaths – generally this occurs because the document is from outside Ontario or Canada
• Mortgage, lending, land transfer, and other real estate documents
• Documents required to be legalized from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa to send to a foreign government or authority abroad
• Passports and related documents in certain situations

A Notary Public is an official authorized by the province to witness signatures, certify documents, and administer oaths or affirmations. In Ontario, notaries are legally recognized to verify that documents are genuine, signatures are valid, and the signing parties are doing so willingly and knowingly.

Common services include:

Certifying true copies of documents

Notarizing affidavits and declarations

Witnessing legal documents like contracts, travel letters, and powers of attorney

Notarized documents are often required for legal, financial, real estate, or international matters — and they carry extra weight because of the notary's legal authority.

A Commissioner of Oaths and a Notary Public are two different positions. They perform some common functions, but there are some material differences in their legal authority. A commissioner of oaths has limited authority when compared with a notary public. If a document is to be “notarized” as opposed to “commissioned”, you will have to visit the office of a Notary Public. 

In Ontario, a Notary Public is appointed and authorized under the Notaries Act to commission documents, certify or notarize documents as true copies, and verify signatures. Most lawyers in Ontario also act as notary public. As such, they possess the qualifications and skills necessary to practice law and offer legal advice as well as writing and preparing legal documentation.

No. The Notaries Act does not permit notaries to exercise their powers without being in the person’s physical presence, unless regulations so provide. 

To date, no such regulations have been made by the Ontario government.

Notarization may be required for a wide range of legal, personal, and business documents. These include documents where authenticity, identity verification, or legal formality is crucial.

Common documents that often need to be notarized include:

Affidavits (sworn statements used in court or legal matters)

Statutory Declarations

Certified true copies of IDs, passports, diplomas, etc.

Consent letters for children traveling abroad

Power of Attorney (POA)

Wills and estate documents (if notarization is requested or required)

Real estate documents (e.g., property transfers, land titles)

Letters of Invitation for visa or immigration applications

Business contracts or agreements

International documents requiring authentication or legalization

Some institutions (like banks, courts, or foreign governments) may require notarization to validate a document’s authenticity or the identity of the signer.

While a Notary Public in Ontario can notarize a wide range of documents, there are certain limitations. A notary cannot sign or notarize documents that:

Fall Outside Their Jurisdiction or Authority:

• Wills (if you're relying on the notary to confirm mental capacity or intent — this is a legal matter, not just notarization)
• Separation or Divorce Agreements (unless they're drafted and reviewed by lawyers)
• Documents requiring legal advice if the notary is not a licensed lawyer or paralegal
• Documents for use outside Ontario, unless the notary is also authorized federally or the document is going through authentication/legalization

Conflict of Interest Situations:

• Documents involving the notary’s family, friends, or personal interests
• Any situation where the notary cannot remain impartial

Forged or Incomplete Documents:

• The notary must refuse to sign anything that appears to be incomplete, fraudulent, or improperly filled out