How to become a notary public (Ontario lawyers and paralegals)
If you are a practising lawyer or paralegal in Ontario, you can apply to be a notary public (a person who witnesses oaths, signs affidavits and certifies documents to be true copies of the original).
Official Documents Services processes this application and issues a Certificate of Appointment.
Overview
As a lawyer or paralegal, you can be appointed as a notary public after being licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
A notary public is a person who witnesses oaths, signs affidavits and certifies documents to be true copies of the original.
This is a lifetime appointment as long as you are in good standing with the LSO. Only Ontario lawyers and paralegals working in Ontario can apply.
Submit a request
You can submit your request through one of the following methods:
- Use the notary public portal to submit a service request online
- Download and print the service request form and submit the completed form in-person or via mail to:
Official Documents Services
777 Bay Street, Lower Level
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J8
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except statutory holidays
Applications will not be accepted by fax.
Once ODS receives your request they will review and process. If successful, you will receive your Certificate of Appointment via mail to the address you provided within 15 business days.
To avoid damages to your notary public appointment certificate, please provide a mailing address with a suitable mail drop off slot for receiving large envelopes.
Cost and Payment
Notary public appointment cost
- Lawyers and paralegals: $145 fee (one-time fee, all taxes exempted)
- Government lawyers and paralegals: $0 (fees will be waived)
Payment methods
In-person
Visit our office in-person and make a payment with cash, Visa, Mastercard, debit, certified cheque or money order.
Send a cheque or money order by mail made payable to: The Minister of Finance.
For online service request submissions, make sure to include both your LSO number and service request confirmation number in the memo section of the cheque or money order.
After you apply
Once your application is processed, you will receive a notary public package in the mail with a Certificate of Appointment issued by Official Documents Services (ODS) and a form for you to provide a specimen of your embossed seal and signature.
This will be used by ODS to authenticate any future documents that you notarize. If you do not send in this form, ODS will be unable to authenticate documents you notarize.
If you make any changes to your signature or seal, your specimen signature and seal kept on file at ODS will also need to be updated. If updates are not made, documents will not be authenticated.
Other Services
Non-lawyer or non-paralegal notary public appointment
You need to apply to be appointed a notary public through the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Commissioner for taking affidavits appointment
You need to apply for this designation through the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
Official Documents Services
777 Bay Street, Lower Level
Toronto Ontario M7A 2J8
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except statutory holidays.
Parking and transit
- Underground paid-parking available.
- Subway: College (Yonge Line)
- Streetcar: College streetcar