The Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act empowers municipal clerks and other officials to take various types of declarations and to administer oaths. The City Clerk's Office provides the services of a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits (also known as Commissioner of Oaths). A Commissioner is not the same as a notary public. A commissioner has authority only to administer oaths and take affidavits.
The Clerk or designate will first review the document to determine if the document meets their specification. We reserve the right to refuse commissioning services of any document.
Appointments
We strongly recommend you call the City Clerk's Office at 519-271-0250 ext. 237 in advance to book an appointment. This will ensure there is a Commissioner available when you come in for your commissioning.
What to Bring
The person signing the affidavit must show government issued identification that contains a current photo and a signature, such as a valid driver's licence. You are required to sign in the presence of the commissioner.
Your responsibility
If you are signing a legal document that requires your oath, the content of that document is your sole responsibility. When you are making an oath, you are known as the "deponent" – the person whose signature is being commissioned to ensure the content of the affidavit.
As a deponent, you must understand the details in the document to which you are attesting – and you must understand that, by swearing an oath, you are attesting that those details are correct.
Documents that Cannot be Commissioned
A Commissioner of Oaths is not a Notary Public. If you require a document to be "notarized" as opposed to "commissioned" the person who administers the oath or affidavit is a Notary Public - generally a lawyer and not a Commissioner of Oaths. The City does not have a Notary Public.
A Notary Public is a person who is authorized under the Notaries Act to commission documents, certify or notarize documents as true copies and to verify signatures. The requirements to become a Notary Public are more stringent than for a commissioner and most are lawyers or judicial officers.
The following documents will not be commissioned:
- Consent to Travel Abroad Document for Children,
- Wills and Living Wills,
- Court, legal or civil issue related documents,
- Power of Attorney,
- Divorce, Separation, Marriage or Custody Agreements
- Letter of Invitation
| Location |
City of Stratford |
|
Commissioning Fee |
$25.00 per document, payable by Cash, Debit, or Credit Card (fee increases with additional signatures) |
For more information about getting documents commissioned please contact the City Clerk's Office at 519-271-0250 ext. 237 or email.