Some documents can be sworn on screen.
Some need ink, paper, and a room.
We route every request to the right process under Ontario law — video call for oaths and declarations, in‑person appointment for anything requiring a notarial seal.
Two lawful tracks. One intake.
Ontario law treats commissioning and notarization differently — the regulation permitting remote work applies to one, not the other. Tell us which document you have, and we’ll tell you which lane it belongs in.
Commissioning
- ›Affidavits for court, immigration, or general use
- ›Statutory declarations
- ›Consent & travel declarations (non‑notarial)
- ›Oaths of office & affirmations
Notarization
- ›Certified true copies (passport, diploma, ID)
- ›Powers of attorney — domestic witnessing & foreign‑use notarization
- ›Documents bound for apostille or authentication
Full service list
Every act we perform, and how it’s delivered.
| Service | What it is | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit | Sworn written statement for court, government, or general use — e.g. vehicle ownership transfer, family gift of a used vehicle, insurance proof of loss | Virtual or in-person |
| Statutory declaration | Formal declaration where no oath is legally required — e.g. legal name change, lost identification declaration, OSAP common‑law or child support status | Virtual or in-person |
| Oath / affirmation | Administering an oath for office, employment, or a proceeding | Virtual or in-person |
| Travel consent letter | Parental consent for a child travelling outside Canada | Virtual or in-person |
| Pension & life certificate | Proof of life or residency verification for a pension provider | Virtual or in-person |
| Immigration letter | Invitation letter supporting a visitor visa application | Virtual or in-person |
| Certified true copy | Notary compares and certifies a copy against the original document | In-person required |
| Witnessed signature / execution | Notary confirms identity and witnesses a signature being made | In-person required |
| Power of attorney witnessing — domestic | Acting as one of the two required witnesses to a property or personal care POA | In-person required |
| Affidavit of execution (POA for land registration) | Witness swears they saw the POA signed, so it can be registered on title | Virtual or in-person |
| Power of attorney — foreign use | Notarial certification and seal for a POA relied on by a foreign registry or closing, e.g. a property purchase abroad | In-person required |
| Apostille‑bound documents | Notarization as the first step before provincial/federal authentication | In-person required |
A few things worth knowing before you book: we confirm your identity and witness the oath, but don’t verify the facts in your document or help draft its content — that’s between you and the document itself. Bring valid government photo ID, and please have your document printed and ready to sign in front of us, rather than signed beforehand. In‑person appointments are mobile within Ottawa and surrounding areas — we’re glad to meet you there even if you’re visiting from out of town, but we don’t currently travel further afield (e.g. Toronto).
Free templates
Common documents, ready to download and print unsigned ahead of your appointment.
Templates are provided for convenience only and are not legal advice — confirm the version required by the receiving institution before use.
How each track actually runs
Virtual · Commissioning
Upload your documentSend the unsigned document and two pieces of photo ID through the intake form.
Book a video slotChoose a live video appointment — real‑time audio and video for the full session, as required by O. Reg. 431/20.
Identity confirmed on cameraYou hold up your ID; we confirm it matches before anything is sworn.
Sign, swear, and receiveYou sign on screen or on your own printed copy, the oath is administered, and the completed record is sent back the same day.
In‑Person · Notarization
Bring the originalThe document (and original ID, diploma, or record to be copied) must be physically present — no exceptions.
Valid photo ID requiredYou’ll need to bring a government‑issued photo ID that hasn’t expired — for example, a driver’s licence, passport, or Ontario photo card. Health cards and SIN cards can’t be used. We confirm your identity in person before the appointment proceeds.
Book a meeting locationWe’re mobile within Ottawa and surrounding suburbs and happy to meet you there — at home, in hospital, at a retirement or long‑term care home, at your office, or for group signings — including if you’re visiting from out of town. We don’t currently travel further out (e.g. Toronto).
Notarial reviewWe inspect the original, confirm identity in person, and complete the certification or attestation.
Seal appliedThe notarial seal and signature are applied on site; this is the step no video call can lawfully replace.
Have a large group to notarize?
For weddings, real estate closings, corporate signings, or any event with multiple signatories, we can arrange a group appointment at a single location. Contact us with:
- Specific location, date & time
- Number of signatories & notarizations
- Nature of the documents
- One organizer’s name & contact info
Tip: appoint one person to coordinate — confirm everyone’s availability, have documents ready in advance, and make sure each signatory brings valid photo ID.
What to expect at your appointment
Before you book
Upload your document at bookingWhen you schedule through Calendly, you’ll be asked to attach the document you need commissioned or notarized, and to identify what type it is (e.g., affidavit, statutory declaration, power of attorney). This lets us confirm it’s the right document, correctly drafted, and eligible for the track you’ve chosen.
Do not sign beforehandUpload an unsigned copy — do not sign it before our meeting. Signing must happen during our appointment; a document signed before the oath is administered cannot be lawfully commissioned.
Virtual appointments: format mattersIf your document isn’t provided in advance in the requested format (for example, it arrives already signed), we won’t be able to proceed at your scheduled time. This is treated as a wasted slot and is non‑refundable.
Payment is collected at bookingYour appointment is confirmed once payment is complete, covering both the appointment and identity verification.
At the appointment
Identity verification happens firstBefore we begin, you’ll complete a short identity check through our verification partner — on camera for virtual sessions, or in office for in‑person visits.
If verification doesn’t pass“We were unable to complete identity verification, so we’re not able to proceed with this appointment.” You’ll receive a refund of the service fee, less the cost of the verification check.
Missed appointmentsIf you don’t attend and haven’t rescheduled in advance, the appointment is treated as a no‑show and is non‑refundable.
Why can’t a notary do this by video?
It’s not office policy — it’s the law.
The remote regulation
In 2020, Ontario passed a specific regulation (O. Reg. 431/20, made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act) allowing oaths and declarations to be sworn by video, as long as strict conditions are met — real-time video, identity confirmation, and a recorded transaction.
No such regulation exists for notaries
The law that governs notaries — the Notaries Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. N.6 — has never been changed to allow remote acts. A notarial act (certifying a true copy, witnessing a signature, applying a notarial seal) legally requires the notary to physically examine the original document or witness the signing in person. There is currently no way around this under Ontario law, no matter the technology used.
What that means for you
If your document only needs to be sworn, we can usually do it by video. If a bank, government office, or foreign country requires a notarial seal, an in-person visit isn’t a preference — it’s a legal requirement we cannot waive.