Frequently Asked questions

What is a Notary Public

A Notary Public is part of the legal system in Ontario, and is appointed by the Government of Ontario, more specifically by the Ministry of Government Services in Ontario. Most lawyers in Ontario are also licensed to act as notary public. Every notary public can administer oaths or take affidavits, affirmations or declarations, attest the oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations, certify and attest a true copy of a document, and witness or certify and attest the execution of a document.

What is a Commissioner of Oaths

A Commissioner for Oaths is not a notary public, and cannot act as a notary public. However, a notary public can act as a commissioner for oaths. A commissioner of oaths is appointed by the Government of Ontario. A commissioner for oaths can administer oaths, take and receive affidavits, affirmations or declarations, and attest the oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations.

How to find a Notary Public

The internet is helpful and quick, Google search will return numerous local notary public links. From Google ads to Yellow Page listings there are plenty of choices available. So you click on a web link, find a phone number to call and someone will either pick up the phone or call you back. When considering your options to retain a notary public, look for those that provide quality customer care and professionalism to ensure proper execution of relevant documents. You should try to find a notary website that is dedicated to making it easy for you to find a notary public in your area. When considering your options to retain a notary public, look for those that provide quality customer care and professionalism to ensure proper execution of relevant documents.

Another important consideration is how can you tell if the person that you are talking to is really an authorized notary public licensed to practice in Ontario, or just a scam? Most notaries public in Ontario are lawyers licensed to practice under the rules of the Law Society of Ontario, whereas in some cases non-lawyers are also appointed to be a notary public by the Ministry of Attorney General in Ontario. If you want to verify the status or credentials of a lawyer in Ontario, you can do so by searching in the lawyers’ directory of the Law Society of Ontario on www.lso.ca.

While not every notary has to travel, many notaries offer mobile notary services for the sake of their customers because often documents must be signed in a quick time frame and at inconvenient times and places. Many notaries are able to provide notary services in their office, home, or they may travel to their customers for a scheduled signing. Mobile notaries charge separately for travelling. Moreover, mobile notaries can also work odd hours, including evenings and weekends, in order to accommodate their clients. To book an appointment with a mobile notary public, please go to our Mobile Notary page.

Who can notarize a document in Ontario

Only an authorized notary public can provide notarization services in Ontario. A notary public is appointed by the Government of Ontario, more specifically by the Ministry of Government Services in Ontario. Most lawyers in Ontario are also authorized to act as notary public. Every notary public can administer oaths or take affidavits, affirmations or declarations, attest the oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations, certify and attest a true copy of a document, and witness or certify and attest the execution of a document.

A notary public provides very important and critical services to the general public. Most importantly they verify and witness signatures on official documents. They also verify the identification of a person signing a document, and diligently ensure that signers are of sound mind before and during an official document signing and there is no coercion or threat involved. In this way they are front-line officers who prevent identity and other documentation fraud, forgery or tampering.

What is the public importance of a Notary Public

A notary public is a very useful and important official in the society. They provide very important and useful services to the general public. Most importantly they verify and witness signatures on official documents. They also verify the identification of a person signing a document, and diligently ensure that signing person is of sound mind before and during an official document signing and there is no coercion or threat involved. In this way they are front-line officers who prevent identity and other documentation fraud, forgery or tampering.

There are numerous other duties a notary public performs, such as document execution (legally binding signatures); affirming the state of mind of all signees; identifying fraud or coercion; completing the notarial certificate on all documents; verifying the identification of contract participants; being present at the time of document execution (this may include traveling), administering oaths and statutory declarations; witnessing contracts, loan documents, marriage certificates, and other legal documents. Notaries also certify photocopies of the documents as true images of the original document. In addition to these responsibilities, notaries also sometimes handle closings for the mortgage industry.

In order to be a competent notary public, one has to be familiar with provincial laws, paperwork, and other common government processes. Notaries must verify important details and documents in front of them before notarizing signatures. This includes checking identification and making sure that signers understand what they are signing. Notaries should never “cut corners.” It is the notary’s responsibility both to uphold the integrity of the signature process as well as to inform the parties involved of provincial or Federal laws pertaining to the signing of the document. Most of the times notaries keep journals by recording names, times, locations, and other details of the parties to ensure that all signing parties will be held accountable to the document.

A competent notary will always be familiar with commonly used legal documents such as evidentiary documents, loan documents, passports, affidavits, government forms, and other usual documents which fall under a notary’s realm of responsibility. Notaries are not always involved in composing or drafting legal documents, they are however able to identify what people are signing and what notary responsibilities apply to any given situation.

While not every notary has to travel, many notaries offer mobile notary services for the sake of their customers because often documents must be signed in a quick time frame and at inconvenient times and places. Many notaries are able to provide notary services in their office, home, or they travel to their customers for a scheduled signing. Mobile notaries charge separately for travelling. Moreover, mobile notaries can also work odd hours, including evenings and weekends, in order to accommodate their clients.

How to have a notary service at my home or office

There may be situations when you are unable to attend a notary public’s officer to sign or attest a document. There may be other reasons you are not able to attend a notary’s office, such as bad weather, time-saving, convenience, privacy, mobility issues, non-availability of a notary nearby, or out-of-hours service requirements. Often you should be able to find a mobile notary in your area who is able to meet you at your desired location and perform the job. We are proud to offer our services in these situations. Our notary public can attend your location to notarize or commission your documents, and for this process he will need to meet the person(s) signing or swearing the document. Sometimes more than one person at different locations is signing the same set of the document(s). In these situations, our notary public will meet all of them and perform notary services. Some of the locations we usually attend include customer’s home, hospitals, courts, airports (including Pearson International Airport), universities & schools, boardrooms, business corporations, hotels, retirement homes, banks & credit unions, financial institutions, theaters, film & recording studios, etc.

Mobile notary service fee starts from $40 per notarization signature or stamp (excluding travelling fee). Mobile notary fee rates are variable and take into account travel distance, nature of document(s), time, and other logistical considerations. We would be happy to talk to you and discuss fee rates. Special discount is available for sick and senior citizens.