Notary or Commissioner in Ontario (2026): Most People Pay for the Wrong One
One question decides it, and it takes five seconds to answer.
In short
A commissioner for taking affidavits can administer oaths and take affidavits and statutory declarations. A notary public can do all of that and certify that a copy is a true copy of an original.
So the question is: do you need a true copy? If yes, notary. If no — and for most affidavits and declarations the answer is no — a commissioner is enough.
And commissioners are everywhere and often free. Every lawyer and paralegal licensed in Ontario is automatically a commissioner, no application required. A notary charges $10 to $40 a document. The City of Toronto commissions for $25, and many municipalities do it free for residents.
Who can do what
| Commissioner for taking affidavits | Notary public | |
|---|---|---|
| Administer an oath or affirmation | Yes | Yes |
| Take an affidavit | Yes | Yes |
| Take a statutory declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Certify a true copy of an original | No | Yes |
| Witness a signature as a notarial act | No | Yes |
| Typical cost | Free to about $25 | $10–$40 per document |
One more limit worth knowing: a commissioner cannot commission their own affidavit. Neither can a notary notarise their own.
Who is already a commissioner?
More people than you would guess, and the power comes with the office rather than an application.
Ontario also publishes a searchable directory of appointed notaries and commissioners. It is free, and it is the right first stop rather than a search engine.
Can ServiceOntario do it?
Not notarisation. This trips up a great many people who assume a government counter must offer a government-sounding service.
ServiceOntario does not provide notary services at all. Its offices can commission certain documents tied to what they actually deliver — a vehicle transfer or a gifted car, for instance. A general affidavit for an employer, a school or a foreign authority is not their business.
Where to go instead: your municipal clerk’s office, a paralegal, a lawyer, a walk-in notary office, or a community legal clinic. Banks, employers and settlement agencies often have a commissioner on staff too.
Ask the receiving body first, not the notary
The single most expensive mistake here is buying the wrong service because nobody asked the one question that settles it.
Whoever wants the document — an employer, a university, a court, a foreign consulate, an insurer — knows what they require. Ask them in writing whether they need it commissioned, notarised, or certified as a true copy. Those are three different things and they cost different amounts.
Documents heading abroad are the exception where you should expect the full chain: notarisation, then in some cases authentication and legalisation, which is a separate process again. Confirm the whole sequence before paying for the first step.
And if the document is not in English or French, the translation has its own rules — our translation guide covers who is allowed to do it and why a relative cannot.
Red flags
What to do next
Send one message to whoever is asking for the document: does this need to be commissioned, notarised, or certified as a true copy? Their answer decides where you go and what you pay, and it costs nothing to ask.
Then check the province’s directory, and check whether your municipality commissions documents for residents before paying a private office.
Compare professional services in Ontario on Ontario24 and contact notaries, paralegals and lawyers directly. Ontario24 is a classified directory — we help you find and compare, and we do not vet, certify or verify anyone. Real estate lawyer fees and accountant fees cover the other two professional bills people meet most often.
Before you call anyone, it helps to know what this job should cost and what the next one will. What things cost in Ontario in 2026 puts 75 service prices in one table.
Frequently asked questions
A commissioner for taking affidavits can administer oaths and take affidavits and statutory declarations. A notary public can do all of that and certify a document as a true copy of an original, and witness signatures. The dividing line in practice is the true copy: if you need one, you need a notary.
Commonly $10 to $40 per document, and most notaries charge per notarial act rather than per page. A typical office charges around $25 to $38 for the first signature and less for each additional one in the same appointment. Mobile and online notarisation cost more.
Often far less than a notary, and sometimes nothing. The City of Toronto commissions documents for $25 unless the matter is City business. Many municipalities offer it free or for a small fee to residents, and some employers, banks and community agencies have a commissioner on staff.
Certain office holders, including lawyers and paralegals licensed and in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, along with municipal clerks and others. They do not apply for it — the power comes with the office. Anyone else must apply and pay a fee.
No. ServiceOntario does not provide notary services. Its offices can commission certain documents connected to services it delivers, such as a vehicle transfer or gift, but a general notarisation is outside what it does.
Usually not. An affidavit or statutory declaration needs someone authorised to administer the oath — which a commissioner is. People routinely pay notary prices for an affidavit when a commissioner would have been enough, and sometimes free.
The Government of Ontario publishes a searchable directory of appointed notaries public and commissioners for taking affidavits. Beyond it, any lawyer or paralegal you already deal with is a commissioner, and your municipality may offer the service at the clerk’s office.
Sources
Checked 18 September 2026. The powers of a commissioner for taking affidavits and of a notary public, and the rule that certain office holders including lawyers and paralegals are commissioners by virtue of office, are set out by the Government of Ontario; the province publishes a directory of notaries and commissioners and guidance for non-lawyers seeking appointment. Lawyers and paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Prices come from published 2026 fee pages of Toronto notary offices and from the City of Toronto’s published commissioning fee; private fees vary and are not regulated, so confirm before attending. Nothing here is legal advice — what a particular document requires is decided by whoever is receiving it. Ontario24 is a classified directory and does not notarise or commission documents.