Qualifications vary from state to state or province. -------------------------- Ontario Canada What is a notary public? A person who has the power to witness oaths, solemn affirmations, the signing of affidavits or statutory declarations. A notary public may also certify documents to be true copies of the original. In Ontario, notaries derive their power from the following provision of the Notaries Act: "[a] notary public has and may use and exercise the power of drawing, passing, keeping and issuing all deeds and contracts, charter-parties and other mercantile transactions in Ontario, and also of attesting all commercial instruments that may be brought before him or her for public protestation, and otherwise of acting as is usual in the office of notary public…". The Government of Ontario maintains records and a list of all individuals who are authorized as notaries public. What is a notary seal? This is the seal affixed by a notary to the documents he or she notarizes. The seal and signature of every notary is registered with Province of Ontario. What qualifications must a notary public have? All barristers and solicitors in Ontario qualify as notaries public. Under the Ontario Notaries Act, the Attorney General may also appoint such persons as he or she thinks fit as notaries public for Ontario. What is an affidavit? An affidavit is a document setting out a statement that a person (the deponent) swears to be true and correct. What is a certified copy? This is a photocopy of an original document that has been certified by a notary public to be a true and accurate copy of the original document by affixing a signature, seal and statement to that effect on the copy. What is a statutory declaration? A statutory declaration is a solemn declaration authorized by the Canada Evidence Act or the Ontario Evidence Act and is used to assert the truth of any fact or facts or of any account rendered in writing. Some of the most common are statutory declarations confirming identity, birth, marital status, or that a document has been lost or stolen. What must I bring to my appointment? Photo identification bearing signature (e.g. driver’s licence, health card, passport). For certified copies, please bring the original document. Will my personal information remain private? http://www.capitalnotaryservices.com/FAQs.htm Quebec Canada - Qualifications * Two to three years of undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of college program and A bachelor's degree from a recognized law school and A one-year course in notarial practice from a recognized faculty of law or a Diploma of Notarial Law (D.D.N.) and Successful completion of the final examination set by the Chamber of Notaries. * Registration with the Chamber of Notaries is required. * In Quebec, membership in the professional corporation for notaries is mandatory. * Quebec notaries may specialize in a particular area of law through experience. http://www.canlaw.com/notaries/notary.htm

It is the responsibility of a notary public to identify the identity of the one signing the documents, verify that the document is completely filled out, and then sign and notarize the document. The duties of a notary public do not include preparing documents or answering legal questions for clients. http://www.thedocdiva.com/ http://thedocdiva.blogspot.com/

Most people with a notary public license advertise in the local directory. Their function is to verify and witness your signature on a legal document. They will look at your picture ID, watch you sign the legal document you need, and then put on their seal of what they observed. They will charge a small fee for their service.

From Dictionary.com: to certify (a document, contract, etc.) or cause to become certified through a notary public. A notary Public is someone who is able to notarize something for a person. Normally the city hall has someone who is able to notarize.

A notary public and a Quebec notary are not to be confused as they are not the same, nor are they really comparable. A Quebec notary is a member of a professional order as are lawyers, and are therefore allowed by law to provide legal counsel. Their fields of practice are primarily family, estate, and realestate law. Quebec also has something called a Commissioner for Oaths which person can receive oaths and declarations.

A notary public is a person who can witness oaths, solemn affirmations, the signing of affidavits or statutory declarations. A notary public may also certify documents to be true copies of the original. In some jurisdictions, a notary public can also draft contracts, promissory notes, wills, mortgages and other legal documents. Almost always, the powers of a notary public in each province or state are derived from provincial or state legislation. For example, in Ontario. a notary public derives his or her authority from the Notaries Act which states: "[a] notary public has and may use and exercise the power of drawing, passing, keeping and issuing all deeds and contracts, charter-parties and other mercantile transactions in Ontario, and also of attesting all commercial instruments that may be brought before him or her for public protestation, and otherwise of acting as is usual in the office of notary public, and may demand, receive and have all the rights, profits and emoluments rightfully appertaining and belonging to the calling of notary public". In some jurisdictions such as a number of provinces, the requirements for becoming a notary public are much more stringent than the above and effectively result in only lawyers being able to provide notary public services. Like commissioners of oaths, a notary public may also witness oaths, solemn affirmations and declarations but it is not necessary that a notarial seal be affixed to the document. Affirmation of an Oath Where an oath is being witnessed by a notary public or a commissioner of oaths, the deponent is required to confirm the following: "Do you swear that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true? So help you God". If this type of oath is not preferred, deponents may instead affirm by responding 'yes' to: "Do you solemnly affirm and declare that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true?" Where a solemn declaration is required instead, the deponent must declare in the positive to: "Do you make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath?". In every case, the deponent must be physically present before the notary public or commissioner of oaths. For more information, visit http://www.redsealnotary.com or see blow for list of locations and servcies offered by Red Seal Notary. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red Seal Locations & Types of Services Offered: Ajax, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_ajax.html Aurora, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_aurora.html Barrie, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_barrie.html Bedford, Nova Scotia: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/nova-scotia-notary-public/notary_public_bedford.html Belleville, Ontario: Notary Public & 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Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_owen_sound.html Parry Sound, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_parry_sound.html Perth, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_perth.html Peterborough, Ontario: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/ontario-notary-public/notary_public_peterborough.html Prince George, British Columbia: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/british-columbia-notary-public/notary_public_prince_george.html Quebec, Quebec: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services 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Yellowknife, Northwest Territories: Notary Public & Commissioner of Oaths Services http://www.redsealnotary.com/locations/canada-notary-public/northwest-territories-notary-public/notary_public_yellowknife.html

A notary public is a person who can witness oaths, the signing of affidavits or statutory declarations. A notary public may also certify documents to be true copies of the original. Notaries in ontario are different than in Quebec.