01.
Immigration law
Refusals, appeals and judicial review, plus sponsorship, work permits and study permits.
Notary public in Ontario
Most notarial work takes a few minutes, and almost every wasted trip comes down to the same two mistakes: arriving without government photo identification, or arriving with the document already signed.
About this practice area
What is the difference between a notary public and a commissioner of oaths?
A commissioner of oaths can administer an oath or affirmation and take an affidavit or statutory declaration for use inside Ontario. A notary public can do that and more, including certifying a copy as a true copy of an original and witnessing signatures on documents intended for use outside the province.
If a document is going to another country, or to a bank, court or authority that asks specifically for notarisation, you generally need a notary public rather than a commissioner.
Our approach
A clear path forward
The same four steps on every matter, whether it is a refusal at the Federal Court or a ticket at the Provincial Offences court.
Book a consultation01
Understand
We take the full history and read the documents before offering an opinion. Most bad advice comes from acting on half the facts.
02
Assess
You get a candid read on strength, timeline and cost, including when the honest answer is that you do not need to hire anyone.
03
Act
We prepare the application, the defence or the appeal properly the first time, because fixing a weak record later is harder and dearer.
04
Report
You hear from us at each stage, and you hear what a wait actually means rather than a date chosen to sound better.
Who we take
Are we the right firm for this?
3 reasons either way
Worth reading before you book. Turning away a matter we should not take costs us a file and saves you a retainer.
We are a fit if
- You need a document notarised, or an affidavit or declaration commissioned
- You need a certified true copy for use outside Ontario
- You can attend in person with government issued identification
We are probably not if
- You want a signature notarised that nobody at the firm witnessed
- You cannot attend and want the document handled without you
- You need advice on what the document does and would rather not pay for it
Where to go next
Bring photo identification and leave the document unsigned, and most appointments are finished in under fifteen minutes.
A notary public in Ontario cannot witness a signature that was already on the page when you walked in.
Also from Rathod Law Firm
Other practice areas
02.
Personal injury
Motor vehicle collisions, slip and fall, long term disability and accident benefits.
04.
Paralegal services
Small Claims Court, tribunal hearings and Provincial Offences, at paralegal rates.
06.
Traffic tickets
Speeding, stunt driving, red light and careless driving charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
08.
Civil litigation
Contract and commercial disputes, debt claims, real estate litigation and Small Claims.
09.
Legal consultation
A first assessment of where you stand, what it costs, and whether you need us at all.
Common questions
What do people ask about notarization?
3 answered here
The ones that come up before somebody decides to ring at all. Each answer is the whole answer, not a teaser for a telephone call.
What should you bring to a notary appointment?
Valid government issued photo identification, and the document unsigned. You sign in front of the notary, because the notary is attesting that you signed it, not that a signature already existed.
For a certified true copy, bring the original as well as the copy. For a document that names other parties, everyone who must sign needs to attend with their own identification.
Which documents do you notarise?
Affidavits and statutory declarations, certified true copies of passports, diplomas and identity documents, consent to travel letters for a child travelling with one parent or another adult, invitation letters supporting visitor visa applications, powers of attorney, and signature witnessing and authentication.
Where a document is going abroad it usually needs authentication beyond notarisation, from Official Documents Services. Since Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024 that step produces an apostille for a signatory country and a certificate of authentication for a country that is not a signatory, and an apostille may remove the consular legalisation that used to follow it. Ask the receiving authority what they require before booking, because that step is theirs to specify.
Do you need an appointment?
Notarial work is by appointment so that a notary is present when you arrive rather than in a hearing somewhere else. Ring the main number and say what the document is, because a statutory declaration, a certified true copy and a travel consent letter each need something different brought with you.
Speak to someone this week
A notary public in Ontario can usually finish an appointment in under fifteen minutes.
Law Society of Ontario licensedFederal Court filingsEnglish, Hindi, Gujarati and PunjabiFee quoted before you commit