A certified true copy is a document that has been verified by a notary public to be an unaltered duplicate of the original. These certified copies can be used for domestic and international use. The NotaryPlus certifies all types of documents including:

• • Identification (birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, etc);
  • Fingerprints and Criminal Background Checks;
  • Electronic Documents; and
  • Translated Documents.

Each photocopy must be separately sealed and certified by the notary, even if all images/photocopies are included on the same page.

Oaths, affidavits, solemn affirmations, and declarations are commonly used to allow a person to declare something to be true for the purposes of satisfying a legal requirement when no other evidence is available. The NotaryPlus notarizes all types of documents including:

• • Identity Confirmation;
  • Vehicle Ownership Transfer;
  • Insurance Claims;
  • Professional Accreditation;
  • Marital Status/Common Law;
  • Lost, Stolen or Damaged Passport;
  • Invitation Letters;
  • OSAP application;
  • Birth Registration Forms;
  • Ownership of Property; and
  • ODSP application.

Check out our free document templates.

A notary public may be required to witness your signature and verify its authenticity. The NotaryPlus will witness all types of documents including:

• • Property Documents;
  • Wills and Last Testaments; and
  • Powers of Attorney.

A notarized letter of travel consent will be required for children who need to travel abroad alone, with only one parent or guardian, with friends/relatives, or with a group. This letter ensures the legitimacy of the consent being offered by the non-accompanying parents or guardians. It is highly recommended to have this letter notarized so that border officials will be less likely to question its authenticity.

 Check out our free Travel Consent Letter template.

A letter of invitation is a formal, official letter written by a Canadian citizen or legal resident to their foreign relative. This confirms that they are willing to accommodate the visitor in their house and initiate the visa process. This letter is sent to the Canadian embassy or consulate outside of Canada when applying for a temporary resident visa, and will need to be signed by a notary.

 Check out our free Letter of Invitation template.

The IMM0006E form, also known as the “Application for Authorization and Statutory Declaration for the Purposes of Entry into Canada for Extended Family Members COVID-19 Emergency Orders in Council under the Quarantine Act” is provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC“) and the Canada Border Services Agency. The signature of a Notary Public or a Commissioner of Oaths is required.

When applying for a Canadian Passport, an applicant must have their application, passport photo, and, if applicable, copies of documents confirming their identity signed by an eligible Guarantor. If you do not have a guarantor, you will need the “Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor Form” to be commissioned or notarized.

A notary may be required to witness the signing of a Last Will and Testament (also known as a Will).  These documents need to be notarized and also require two (2) signature witnesses. Your notary can act as one (1) witness for the Will so please be prepared to provide a secondary witness. In Ontario, the following people are not valid witnesses for Wills:

• Anyone under the age of majority in their province or territory;
• A beneficiary or the spouse or common-law partner of a beneficiary;
• Anyone who has something to gain from signing the Will (eg, child of a beneficiary); and
• Executors, personal representatives or guardians of the Will can act as witnesses but they are not recommended.

When notarizing a Will, an Affidavit of Execution is required for the witness to swear or solemnly declare they were present and saw another person sign a document. As required, The NotaryPlus will also connect the Affidavit of Execution to the Will by adding and signing an Exhibit stamp on the back of the Will.

 Check out our free Last Will and Testament template.

An Ordinary Power of Attorney is a document in which you appoint someone else to act on your behalf on matters that you specify. A Continuing Power of Attorney is set up to take care of a person’s interests if they become mentally incapacitated. 

A notary may be required to witness the signing of Powers of Attorney. These documents need to be notarized and also require two (2) signature witnesses. Your notary can act as one (1) witness for the Power of Attorney so please be prepared to provide a secondary witness. In Ontario, the following people are not valid witnesses for Powers of Attorney:

• • Anyone under the age of majority in their province or territory;
  • A spouse, common-law partner, child or someone you treat as your child;
  • Your attorney, or your attorney’s spouse or common law partner;
  • Anyone who has a “Guardian of Property” appointed by a court due to medical reasons;
  • Anyone who has a “Guardian of the Person” appointed by a court because they are unable to make personal care decisions due to their mental capacity;
  • Anyone whose property is under your guardianship; and
  • Anyone who has a child of yours under their guardianship.

 Check out our free Power of Attorney templates.

When a document needs to be translated, this normally consists of three components: 

1. 1. Certified true copy of the original document;
   2. The translation of the original document; and
   3. The translator’s statement.

A certified translator will be required to provide a Certified Translator’s cover letter. If the translator is not certified, this translator will need to swear an Affidavit of Translation stating that the translation is true in front of a Commissioner or a Notary.

 Check out our free Affidavit of Translation template.

An electronic document will need to be certified by a notary where the original document can be found only on a webpage of an Internet website, or in an email. The NotaryPlus will watch the downloading of each document and certify that the printout is a true copy of the electronic document.

Please have the website and/or email address, and a printout/photocopy for each of your electronic documents readily available for your appointment.