Notary public and commissioner of oaths are persons empowered under provincial legislation to administer and witness the swearing of oaths or solemn affirmations in the taking of an affidavit.
Commissioners of Oaths are also empowered to witness any declaration as required under a statute.
Critically, a Commissioner of Oaths only certifies the required oath, affirmation or declaration has been properly administered; they do not certify the truth of the statements contained in the document
In Ontario, as is the case in many other jurisdictions, a commissioner of oaths requires the deponent to be physically present before the said commissioner and satisfy with the authenticity of the deponent’s identity and signature.
Generally, there are at least 2 types of oaths that can be sworn to:
(1) “Do you swear that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true, so help you, God?”
(2) “Do you solemnly affirm and declare that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true?”
Notably, where a solemn declaration is required instead, the deponent must answer in the affirmative.
Lastly, and most critically, The Notary Guy, as a notary public, is empowered under the statute to act as a commissioner of oaths.
Therefore, rest assured, The Notary Guy, is indeed empowered under Ontario legislation to witness the swearing of an oath, solemn affirmations, or declarations as required under the statute.
Are you looking for a Notary Public Mississauga to assist with notarizing or commissioning your statutory declaration? Contact The Notary Guy to help with your Notary Public Mississauga needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A person who is authorized by the government to administer oaths, affirmations and declarations for legal documents is known as a commissioner of oaths. The Commissioner of Oath is usually a Notary Public, Licensed Paralegal, or a Licensed Lawyer.
They can swear in a wide variety of documents including legal documents such as affidavits, statutory declarations, wills, immigration and even passport applications.
You may be able to find a commissioner of oaths through government offices such as the courts, through professional organizations such as the Law Society or the Notary Public, or through online search engines (such as online directories).
A commissioner of oaths is authorized to administer oaths and affirmations only, while a notary public can also perform other duties such as witnessing signatures and certifying copies of documents in addition to administering oaths and affirmations. Essentially, a Notary Public is also a Commissioner of Oaths in Ontario.
When you visit a commissioner of oaths or Notary Public, you should bring along your affidavit or declaration that needs to be sworn to, as well as one government issued photo identification and payment for the services being offered.