We offer all the following complementary services at our location through our Notary Public:
- Administering Affidavits and Statutory Declarations
- Administering an Oath or Solemn Declaration by a Commissioner of Oath
- Certified True Copy of Original
Affidavit / Statutory Declaration Services
An affidavit is a written description of facts that is sworn or solemnly declared to be true. An affidavit is usually made in the context of court proceedings.
A statutory declaration is similar to an affidavit, except it is usually drafted for purposes other than court proceedings. It is a solemn declaration authorized by the Canada Evidence Act and the Ontario Evidence Act and is used to assert the truth of any fact or facts or of any account rendered in writing. The declaration is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and therefore has value as evidence.
Some common statutory declarations are:
- statutory declaration of common-law
- Solemn Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never-Received Permanent Resident Card (PR Card)
- statutory declarations confirming identity
- statutory declarations confirming a document has been lost or stolen
Oaths or Solemn Declarations
An oath is when a person swears that the contents of a document are true and correct. A solemn declaration is when a person solemnly declares that the contents of a document are true and correct. An oath and a solemn declaration have essentially the same legal effect.
The person making the oath or solemn declaration is called a deponent. The act of administering an oath or solemn declaration is called commissioning an oath.
It is not necessary that the deponent hold a religious book, or raise his/her hand to undertake an oath or solemn declaration.
A person may be prosecuted criminally for knowingly making a false oath or solemn declaration.
A Commissioner of Oaths must verify the identity of the deponent and satisfy himself or herself of the genuineness of the signature of the deponent and will then administer an oath or solemn affirmation.
Certified True Copies of Original
A certified or notarized copy of a document is a photocopy that we certify as being a true copy of the original document.
To have a copy certified, the authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:
- “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
- the name of the original document
- the date of the certification
- his or her name
- his or her official position or title
- his or her signature
In Canada only the following people are authorized to certify copies:
- a commissioner of oaths
- a notary public
- a justice of the peace