A Commissioner of Oaths can administer oaths and affirmations and take affidavits primarily for use within Ontario. A Notary Public has broader authority including certifying true copies of documents, witnessing signatures for authentication purposes, and preparing documents for international use. Notaries can also administer oaths and affirmations like commissioners. Most legal professionals in Ontario hold both appointments and can provide whichever service your specific document requires. Generally, if you need certified copies of documents or your documents will be used outside Ontario, you need a Notary Public. If you need to swear an affidavit for use in Ontario courts or government agencies, either a Notary or Commissioner can help, though commissioners are specifically appointed for this purpose.

You need one piece of current government-issued photo identification that shows your photo, signature, and is not expired. Acceptable forms include a valid driver’s license, Canadian passport, Ontario Photo Card, Permanent Resident Card, or Canadian citizenship card with photo. The name on your identification must match the name on the document you’re having notarized or commissioned. If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, or legal name change and doesn’t match your current ID, bring supporting documentation showing the name change such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or change of name certificate. Expired identification cannot be accepted because the notary must verify current identity. Health cards are generally not acceptable as they’re not intended for identification purposes outside healthcare contexts.

Yes, Ontario Notaries Public can notarize documents for international use. However, many countries require additional steps beyond basic notarization before they’ll accept Canadian documents. Some countries require authentication and legalization through Global Affairs Canada and the foreign country’s embassy or consulate in Canada. As of January 2024, Canada became part of the Hague Apostille Convention, which simplifies the authentication process for documents going to other member countries – these now require only an apostille certificate from Global Affairs Canada rather than the previous multi-step authentication and legalization process. Countries not part of the Apostille Convention still require the traditional authentication and legalization process. The notarization by an Ontario notary is always the first step, after which you submit the notarized document to Global Affairs Canada for apostille or authentication depending on the destination country’s requirements. Before having documents notarized for international use, verify what the receiving country or organization specifically requires to ensure your documents will be accepted.

Fees for notary and commissioner services vary based on document type, complexity, number of documents, and whether travel is involved. Simple notarizations such as certifying a copy of a single document or witnessing a straightforward affidavit typically range from twenty to fifty dollars per document. More complex affidavits requiring review and discussion of content may cost more. Multiple documents can often be handled in a single appointment with fees charged per document or per signature. Mobile services where the notary travels to your location involve additional travel fees based on distance and time. All fees are disclosed upfront before any services are provided, with no hidden costs or surprise charges. Some notaries charge flat rates while others charge based on time spent. It’s worth noting that notary fees in Ontario are not regulated, meaning each notary sets their own rates, so prices can vary between providers. When comparing prices, consider factors like convenience, availability for urgent or after-hours appointments, and the notary’s experience with your specific type of document.

Mobile notary services may be available for hospitals, long-term care facilities, retirement homes, private residences, or office locations within Toronto and the immediate GTA for clients who cannot travel to the office due to medical conditions, disability, mobility limitations, or urgent business needs requiring on-site signing. Mobile services are particularly useful for elderly clients in care facilities, hospital patients who need documents signed, busy professionals who need multiple corporate documents witnessed at their office, or real estate transactions requiring signing at a specific location. Additional travel fees apply based on distance from the downtown Toronto office, time required for travel, and whether the appointment is during regular business hours or requires evening or weekend availability. Mobile appointments also typically require a minimum number of documents or a minimum fee to justify the travel time. To arrange mobile notary services, contact the office to discuss your specific situation, location, timing needs, and what documents require notarization so appropriate fees can be quoted and the appointment can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.

Documents in languages other than English can be notarized if you provide a certified translation into English or if the notary can read and understand the language well enough to confirm the document’s content and ensure it’s appropriate for notarization. The notarial certificate itself will be in English as required by Ontario law and standard notarial practice. For immigration purposes and international use, many receiving organizations require documents to be in English or French with certified translations if the original documents are in another language. In these cases, the process involves getting the foreign language document officially translated by a certified translator, then having the notary certify a copy of both the original foreign language document and the certified translation. The notary verifies that the copy matches the original document and that the translation certificate appears authentic, but does not verify the accuracy of the translation itself. If you’re uncertain whether your foreign language documents need translation before notarization, check with the receiving organization about their specific requirements, as these can vary significantly between different countries and institutions.

A travel consent letter is a notarized document giving permission for a minor child to travel internationally when they’re not accompanied by both parents or legal guardians. Canadian border authorities and airlines require these letters to help prevent child abduction and ensure children have permission to leave the country. You need a travel consent letter when a child under eighteen travels alone, with only one parent, with grandparents or other relatives, with friends, or on school trips. Even if parents are separated or divorced and one parent has full custody, the other parent should still provide consent if possible to avoid problems at borders. The letter must include the child’s full name and date of birth, the traveling parent or adult’s full name and relationship to the child, the non-traveling parent’s full name and contact information, travel dates and destinations, and the non-traveling parent’s signature witnessed by a notary. Both parents should sign consent letters if the child is traveling with someone other than a parent. The letter should be notarized to verify the identity of the signing parent and ensure the signature is genuine. Airlines and border authorities can refuse to let children leave Canada without proper consent documentation, potentially ruining travel plans, so it’s essential to have proper notarized consent letters prepared well before travel dates.

No, documents requiring notarization must be signed in the notary’s presence, not before the appointment. The fundamental purpose of notarization is for the notary to witness you signing the document, verify your identity at the time of signing, and confirm you understand what you’re signing and are doing so voluntarily. If you sign a document before bringing it to a notary, the notary cannot perform these essential verification steps. If you’ve already signed a document that requires notarization, you’ll need to prepare a new unsigned copy and bring it to your notary appointment to sign properly in the notary’s presence. The only exception is for certain types of document certification where the notary is certifying a copy of an already-signed document as a true copy of the original, rather than witnessing the signature itself. For affidavits, statutory declarations, and any documents requiring signature witnessing, the document must be completed but unsigned when you arrive at the appointment, and you must sign it during the appointment while the notary watches you sign.

Swearing an oath involves taking an oath on a religious text such as the Bible, Quran, or other sacred book while declaring that the contents of a document are true. Affirming involves making a solemn declaration without reference to religious texts or beliefs. Both carry exactly the same legal weight and consequences – false statements made under either oath or affirmation can result in perjury charges and criminal prosecution. You can choose based on your personal preference and religious beliefs. If you have religious faith and wish to swear on your faith’s sacred text, the notary can provide that option. If you prefer not to use religious texts for personal, philosophical, or religious reasons, you can affirm instead. The notary will ask which you prefer before administering the oath or affirmation. Some people mistakenly believe that affirmations are less serious or binding than oaths, but this is incorrect – Canadian law treats them as equivalent, and making false statements under affirmation carries the same penalties as making false statements under oath. The only difference is whether religious elements are included in the ceremony of declaring truthfulness.

Not automatically. While Ontario notaries can notarize documents for international use, each country has its own requirements for recognizing foreign documents. Many countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention will accept Canadian documents that have been notarized and then receive an apostille certificate from Global Affairs Canada. Countries not part of the Apostille Convention require traditional authentication by Global Affairs Canada followed by legalization through the foreign country’s embassy or consulate in Canada. Some countries have bilateral agreements with Canada that simplify the process. Before having documents notarized for use in a specific country, contact the receiving organization or the foreign country’s embassy in Canada to determine exactly what authentication steps are required. In some cases, certain documents may need to be prepared in specific formats or include specific wording to be acceptable in the destination country. The notarization by an Ontario notary is typically the first step in the process, but understanding the complete authentication requirements before starting prevents situations where notarized documents are rejected because additional steps weren’t completed properly. Some countries also require documents to be translated by certified translators before notarization and authentication.