Contact the Clerk's Department
Call 905-356-7521 ext. 0 to find out when you can get documents commissioned. The times change each week.
What the Commissioner Can and Cannot Do
The Commissioner for Taking Affidavits cannot certify true copies of documents, IDs, etc. The City does not have a Notary Public.
You can have most sworn statements and declarations commissioned in the Clerk's Office by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits (also known as Commissioner of Oaths). This is different from a Notary Public.
A Commissioner can only administer oaths and take affidavits, either by their office or by appointment through the Ministry of the Attorney Governor for Ontario. A Notary Public has broader authority. For documents that need a Notary's signature or certified copies, contact a lawyer, paralegal, or a Notary.
Requirements for Signing Affidavits
The person signing the affidavit must show government-issued identification with a current photo, such as a valid driver's license. You must sign in the presence of the commissioner, who will stamp the document once the oath has been taken and the signatures sworn.
Examples of documents that may be signed by the Commissioner:
- Vehicle Transfer of Ownership
- Insurance Claims
- Invitation Letter
- Pension Plan
- Domestic and Foreign Pension - Proof of Life
- Life certificates for foreign pensions
- Government related forms
Examples of documents that will NOT be signed by the Commissioner:
- Wills, etc.
- Certified True Copies of any document
- Estate documents
- Land Transfer documents
- Powers of Attorney
- Divorce, separation, or custody documents
- Real estate documents
- Court documents or documents related to any court proceedings
- Documents clearly stating that they are to be signed by a Notary (Public)
- Documents related to finances (banking information, RRSP, Canada Savings Bonds)
- Travel documents related to children
