Notary Public of Ontario and Commissioner of Oaths

Notary Public, Role and Responsibility: As a Notary Public of Ontario, my primary function are to (1) witness or certify, and attest, the execution of a document, (2) certify and attest a true copy of a document, (3) commission oaths or affidavits.

A Notary Public of Ontario can witness or certify, and attest, the execution of a document. The Notary Public is responsible for affirming that the individual known by the name on the document is guaranteed to be the individual who has signed it.

A Notary Public of Ontario can certify and attest a true copy of a document. A notarized copy, sometimes referred to as a certified copy, is a photocopy of an original document that has been certified by a notary public to be a true and accurate copy of the original document.

A Notary Public of Ontario can commission oaths or affidavits. Just as a Commissioner of Oaths, a Notary Public is entitled to take affidavits and administer oaths, declarations, and affirmation

A Notary Public does not validate the content or the accuracy of the facts listed on the documents in question. 

What is the difference between a Commissioner of Oaths and a Notary Public?

A Commissioner of Oaths has limited authority compared to a Notary Public. A Commissioner of Oaths is limited to taking affidavits and administering oaths, affirmations or declarations.

A Notary public has all the powers of a Commissioner of Oaths in Ontario, and can also witness or certify, and attest, the execution of a document, and certify and attest documents to be true copies of the original.

Examples of documents that can be Commissioned and/or Notarized are, but not limited to:

Letters such as:

• Visa Invitation Letter
• Travel Consent Letter for Children 
• Letter of Authorization

Affidavits such as:

• Affidavit for Divorce (Form 36)
• OSAP Affidavit
• Affidavit for a Lost Cheque
• Affidavit for Sole Decision-Making Responsibility for Children
• Affidavit of Service (Form 6B)
• CRA Affidavit for the Transfer of a Small Business or Corporation
• Affidavit in Lieu of Birth Certificate
• Affidavit Verifying Corporate Signing Authority
• Proof of Vaccination Affidavit / Attestation

Law Society of Ontario Applications such as:

• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Lawyer Licensing Process Application 
• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Paralegal Licensing Process Application 
• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Lawyer or Paralegal Application for Surrender of Licence to Practise Law Under By-Law 4

Sworn Statements such as:

• Sworn Statement for the Transfer of a Used Motor Vehicle in Ontario (Form 1155E) 
• ​​Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Vehicle in Ontario (Form 1157E)

Statutory Declarations such as:

• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Relationship
• ​Statutory Declaration as part of Application to change an adult's / child's name (Form 11155E or 11156E)
• Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor for Non-Canadians (Form PPTC 326)
  

Miscellaneous:

• Passport Applications
• Service Canada Separation of Legal Spouses or Common-law Partners form (ISP-1811)
• Ontario Registrant Identification Number (RIN Letter) - 
• Bill of Sale
• Partnership Agreement
• Cohabitation Agreement 
• Canadian Birth Certificate Application Form
• Power of Attorney (Ontario)
• Court or legal documents;
• Marriage or divorce certificates;
• Custody agreements;
• Birth or death certificates;
• Business documents;
• Medical records;
• Adoption or name-change papers;
• Documents for use in foreign countries (legalization)
• Permits, letters, and many other documents.