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.
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.
You can submit your request through one of the following methods:
Official Documents Services
222 Jarvis St., Main Floor,
Toronto, Ontario M7A 0B6
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.
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.
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.
You need to apply to be appointed a notary public through the Ministry of the Attorney General.
You need to apply for this designation through the Ministry of the Attorney General.
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
Official Documents Services
Main Floor
222 Jarvis Street
Toronto Ontario M7A 0B6
Tel : 416-325-8416
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except statutory holidays.
Note: There is paid parking on the south side of the building. Paid parking on the North side is currently closed due to construction. Access to the building is on the north end of the building.