Notary and Commissioner Services

The Primary Roles of a Notary

The three primary roles that a notary does may sound simple enough, but it’s a job that must be done correctly to avoid important or costly mistakes.

Witness Signature

An important responsibility of a notary is witnessing a signature being done and ensuring that the identity of the person signing matches the name to the document. This is a very imperative element of notary services, due to the ramifications involved if the identity of the signee and name on the document don’t match.

Certified True Copies

Certified true copies are documents provided by a notary that can be utilized overseas when the original copy is not able to be used. When a meeting is arranged with a client, they will be asked to bring the original copy with them to their appointment. A notary will compare both the original and the copy, and then stamp and seal the copy once they are satisfied that it is indeed a true copy.

Sworn Oaths

Sworn oaths conducted in front of a notary are the equivalent of an oath sworn in front of a judge in a courtroom setting. This oath legally binds the oath-taker that the contents of the document are accurate and true and that no false representation has taken place. The oath-taker must verbally say “yes” before an oath can be fully completed. A simple nodding of the head doesn’t qualify. Similar to signature witnessing, a notary must retain a copy of the government-issued photo identification along with the sworn statement.

The main reason a notary will retain a copy of these documents is because it is difficult to remember every appointment in which the notary has been used. If in two years a notary is asked to confirm that an individual swore an oath, that notary will need to be able to point back to the specific person. Keeping copies of these documents allows for that verification to happen easily.

Examples of Documents That Need to be Notarized

Here are a few examples of documents that commonly need to be notarized:

• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Sponsorship letter for Visitor Visa
• Power of attorney
• Criminal record check
• Marriage certificate
• Educational documents (degrees and diplomas)
• Pilot’s license
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate

Virtual Notarizing

To make the process of notarizing a document secure and efficient, we are happy to announce that we can offer virtual notary services, without you having to leave your home or office! As of August 1, 2020, the Ontario Government changed the law regarding online commissioning, and it is now permanently available across Ontario.

Please contact our office to make an appointment or to enquire about our notary and commissioning services.