Notarizations, Certifications, Legalizations, Commissioning
$16.95   ^{+ HST}

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

• What Notaries can and cannot do.
  • We are a volume low-cost Notary service. We can notarize/commission ANY document, including notarizing true copies, passport photos, etc.
  • All of our Notaries are registered with Official Document Services.
  • By law, Notaries cannot draft documents; comment on, or give legal advice, concerning any document; or tell you which documents you need, or how to prepare them, for a particular purpose.
  • We don't translate documents, but we can notarize your signature on a foreign language document or notarize a copy of a foreign language document.
  • There isn't a printer, copier or scanner at our office, so we are not able to accept mailed, or emailed documents; and we don't forward completed documents to other parties.
  • We often notarize documents for the USA or other foreign countries, but we are Ontario Notaries, so you should determine if the receiving institution will accept notarizations done by an Ontario Notary. In almost all cases they will, but we can't guarantee this.
  • Here are some Sample Documents that might be useful.
  • Once you have your document prepared and printed, we can notarize it; just book an appointment time from your computer or phone.
• Do you do remote Notarizations?
  • Notarizing (signing/commissioning) must be done in person; after you book the appointment online.
  • Currently, we don't have a service for notarizing documents any other way.
  • If the Notary is witnessing a signature, each person signing, must be present and sign in front of the Notary.
  • If you are only making certified copies, you can bring another person's documents and the photocopies; the documents don't have to belong to you.
  • We are practising social distancing, and everyone entering our building must wear a mask.
• Can the Notary assist with Authentication / Apostille?
  • In Canada the equivalent of an Apostille Service is a 3 step process.
    1. Notarization - by a Notary Public. This is the only part that we do. Our fee: $16.95 + tax.
    2. Authentication - either in Ottawa or at Toronto's Official Document Services (416-325-8416).
    3. Legalization - by a foreign Embassy or Consulate.
  • Only a foreign Embassy or Consulate can explain which documents you need to have Norarized, and where you need to go for #2.
  • Ask them what they require:
    • Notarized signature / Affidavit
    • Certified true Copies
    • Cerified Originals
    • Translations, etc.
  • Ontario Gov't Authentication Information
• Can the Notary give advice on who can be a Witness, or supply extra Witnesses if necessary?
  • By law, Notaries are not allowed to give advice on who can be a Witness or how many Witnesses you need, as that would be giving legal advice.
  • The Notary is usually considered to be an Official Witness.
  • There is only one Notary in the office.
  • If your document needs an EXTRA witness, bring someone with you, or you can try to ask another client to be your second Witness.
  • If you are unsure whether the Notary can be the EXTRA Witness, in addition to being the Official Witness, it is best to contact the institution receiving or viewing your document for direction.
  • Special Cases: WILLS and CONTINUING POWER OF ATTORNEY. Because these are very personal documents, the Notary will be the 1st Witness and you MUST bring your 2nd Witness with you.
• What should I do to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
  • Use the link in the APPOINTMENT REMINDER text you received when you first made the appointment.
• What happens if I show up early for my appointment?
  • We may be able to fit you in when you arrive. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee. Clients are seen in the order of their appointment times; but some clients do come late or cancel, so an earlier time may be available.
  • If you go to Online Booking you may be able to book an earlier time. If you are successful your previous appointment will automatically be cancelled.
  • If the day is fully booked, Online Booking will ask you how much travel time you need and then give you the option to be put on a WAITLIST for that day. When a convenient appointment time becomes available, you will be notified. Being added to the WAITLIST will not affect your current appointment.
• What is your Email Address?
  • Our Email Address is only for Receiving Institutions to verify a notarization we have done.
  • We don't use Email for any other business purpose.
  • Emails with questions or attached documents will not be replied to.
  • If you have a question, that isn't answered on our website, please text us your question, or a short text 'Pls call me' to: (416-939-4158). We will reply as soon as we can.
  • For Receiving Institutions only, our email address is: jeff.brown.notary@gmail.com

CLIENT CHECKLIST

In order for Toronto Notary Public to be able to offer you the above quoted fees we ask that you follow these instructions:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Once you have made an appointment we will text you instructions for your particular documents. Make sure you have completed all the instructions before arriving at our office.
  NOTE: ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW WILL BE IN THE TEXT WE SEND TO YOUR PHONE.
• We accept cash/debit or company cheque payment (no Credit) in order to reduce transaction fees and save you money. We can make change and will issue you an itemized receipt.
• Bring ONE government issued photo identification (examples: passport, citizenship card, permanent resident card, driver's licence, OHIP, etc.); or TWO government issued non-photo identification (examples: SIN card, birth certificate, etc.).

FOR CERTIFIYING / NOTARIZING TRUE COPIES:

• Bring the photocopy and the original document - the Notary must view the original, and there is no photocopier at our office.
• If you are photocopying multiple documents onto a single page, by law, each photocopied image requires its own seal. A fee for each seal is required.
• A multi-page document requires only 1 seal. The Notary will seal 1st page and signature stamp other pages. If 5 or more pages, extra fee of \$0.25 per page.

FOR SIGNING DOCUMENTS:

• Before arriving at our office: MARK AN 'X' at each place the Notary is to sign (to save us both time).
• Complete all your documents: fill in forms, enter ID numbers, attach photographs, if required, etc., BEFORE arriving at our office.
• Don't sign or date the documents before seeing the Notary. It is the Notary's job to properly identify you and witness you signing.
• The name on the Gov't issued photo ID you bring, must match the name you are using on your document; especially important where you have 2 last names.
• Notary fees are charged per Notary signature and seal, not per document.

SEAL TIPS

• In Ontario, Notaries use a seal that makes a raised impression called an embossed seal.
• If you need to scan or photocopy the embossed seal we have applied to your document, first lightly shade over the raised parts of the seal with a pencil so it will become visible in the scan or photocopy. You can erase the shading afterward.
• If you want us to add a seal sticker, a gold seal usually copies better than a red seal.