People use the words interchangeably. Ontario law does not. The difference decides whether your document will be accepted, especially abroad.
In Ontario, a commissioner for taking affidavits can administer oaths and take affidavits, statutory declarations and affirmations. A notary public has those same powers and more: a notary can also witness or certify the signing of a document and certify a true copy of a document. A commissioner cannot do those notarial acts.
If a receiving institution, a court, a bank, a foreign government, requires a notarized document or a certified true copy, only a notary can provide it. Just as important for cross-border use: a document that was merely commissioned, rather than notarized, generally cannot be apostilled for use in another country.
As a law firm with a lawyer who is also a notary public, we can confirm what your document actually needs and provide the correct service, so it is accepted where it has to be.
Immigration, family, corporate or cross-border. We will tell you honestly what can be done, and what cannot.
Book a Consultation人们把这两个词混用，安省法律却不这样。这个区别，决定了你的文件会不会被接受，尤其是在境外。
在安省，“监誓专员(commissioner for taking affidavits)”可以主持宣誓，办理誓章、法定声明与确认。“公证人(notary public)”拥有同样的权力，还更进一步：公证人还可以见证或核证文件的签署，并核证文件的“真实副本(true copy)”。监誓专员不能办理这些公证行为。
如果受理机构，法院、银行、外国政府，要求的是经公证的文件或核证真实副本，那么只有公证人能提供。对跨境使用而言同样关键：一份仅经“监誓”而非“公证”的文件，一般不能被办理海牙认证(apostille)以供他国使用。
作为一家“律师同时是公证人”的律师事务所，我们可以确认你的文件究竟需要什么、并提供正确的服务，让它在该被接受的地方被接受。