Commissioners for taking affidavits (sometimes referred to as Commissioners Of Oaths) take affidavits or declarations by asking you to swear or affirm that what is in a document is true. The person swearing an oath, making an affirmation or making a declaration is called a deponent or declarant.

A commissioner of oaths only certifies that the required oath or affirmation or declaration has been properly administered. Commissioners of oaths do not certify the truth of the statements contained in a document; which remains the responsibility of declarants or deponents themselves.

In Ontario, they’re regulated under the Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act.

In most provinces and states, a commissioner of oath must administer the oath or declaration in the manner prescribed by law. This requires that the deponent be physically present before the commissioner of oaths. Also, the commissioner of oaths must be satisfied with the authenticity of the deponent’s or declarant’s identity and signature before he or she can sign the document themselves.

Types of Oath

Where an oath is being witnessed by 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”.

Affidavits

An affidavit is a document containing a statement that the deponent swears to be true to the best of their knowledge. The commissioner then signs as confirmation that the oath or affirmation was properly administered and that the deponent signed the document after taking the oath. Instead of a commissioner, the notary public or another officer of the court may administer oaths or affirmations and similarly sign in confirmation.

We only have the authority to commission citizenship and immigration related documents

• Affidavit for lost citizenship and immigration documents
• Proof of residency (owner/tenant letters)
• Statutory declarations
  • Statement of common-law status
  • Supporting children,
  • Marital status
  • Lost passport of permanent residence card (must include police report number)
  • The person for change of sex designation
• Amendment to birth/death/marriage certificate
• Delayed statement of live birth
• Canadian citizenship forms

We can administer Oaths and Affidavits in a timely and cost-efficient manner in the GTA Region of Ontario on any working day, or by special arrangements anywhere.

Please contact us to set up an appointment.