Commissioner of Oaths

In addition to the persons authorized by the Minister of Justice to act as a Commissioner of Oaths, the following, by virtue of their office, may receive oaths;

• Clerks, Treasurers & Deputy-Clerks in all municipalities, but only within the limits of their municipality
• Lawyers entitled to practice Law in Ontario
• Members of the Assembly (M.P.P.)
• Provincial Judge & Justices of the Peace (these Commissioners of Oaths may also commission documents)

Deponents are responsible for the statement of the facts to which they are swearing. They must sign the document in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths even though they may have previously signed it, because the Commissioner must be able to attest to the deponent's oath and signature.

The Commissioner of Oaths must be satisfied about the authenticity of the deponent's identity and signature before he or she can sign the document themselves. The deponent's signature can usually be confirmed through comparing the signature on a piece of photo identification such as a driver's licence or on a provincial health insurance card.

You are required to present one original piece of government-issued photo identification (no copies permitted) i.e. a valid driver's licence. Commissioners will not sign Wills, "Living Wills", Codicils to Wills, Powers of Attorney, Divorce, Separation, Custody, Theft, Financial or Real Estate related documents.

The Township of Tay provides this service to its residents for a fee of $15.00 (residents are exempt for pension documents). It is recommended that you contact the office in advance to ensure a signing authority will be available.

The Township of Tay does not have a Notary Public and cannot notarize documents. Documents requiring "Notary Public services" cannot be commissioned at the Municipal Office.

• Local solicitors, justice of the peace or similar vocations are eligible to notarize documents as "Notary Public."