Changing a Child Under 12's Name in Ontario: Notarize the Declaration Online
Changing the name of a child under 12 in Ontario often needs a sworn declaration and consent. Commission it online by video. How it works, flat $19.90.
Last updated: June 23, 2026
Changing a Child Under 12's Name in Ontario: Notarize the Declaration Online
Quick answer: Changing the name of a child under 12 in Ontario is done through ServiceOntario, and the application usually includes a sworn declaration plus the written consent of everyone entitled to custody or access. You can commission that sworn portion before an Ontario notary public online, by secure video — show valid photo ID, swear or affirm the statement, and sign while the notary watches. It costs a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST. The notary commissions the declaration; ServiceOntario decides the forms, consents, and supporting documents required.
Changing a young child's legal name — after a marriage, a separation, an adoption-related step, or a personal decision — runs through Ontario's Office of the Registrar General. Part of the paperwork is sworn, and that is where a notary comes in. For Ontario families, the sworn declaration can be commissioned online over video, without a trip to an office.
This guide explains the consent rules in plain terms, what the sworn part involves, how to commission it online, and what to bring. If your forms are ready, you can book online or call (613) 434-5555. For the bigger picture, see our guide to online and virtual notary services and the statutory declaration guide.
Key Takeaways
| Decision point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Consent | Everyone with custody or access may need to consent | Ontario law requires consent with limited exceptions. |
| Who swears | The applicant, and others whose consent is required | Each signs and swears with their own ID. |
| Forms | ServiceOntario's name change application | The notary commissions; ServiceOntario sets the forms. |
| Identification | Valid government photo ID for each signer | Required on camera. |
| Price | Flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST | Same online or in person. |
What a Notary Can and Cannot Do
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public administers the oath or affirmation, witnesses the signatures, and commissions the sworn declaration or consent. A notary does not decide who must consent, resolve a disagreement between parents, draft the legal content, or process the name change. Consent rules come from Ontario's Change of Name Act and ServiceOntario; a dispute is a family-law matter.
Minute Notary commissions declarations as an Ontario notary public, including by video under O. Reg. 431/20, made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. If the parents do not agree, speak to a family lawyer — the notary cannot override a consent requirement or a court order.
Consent: The Part People Trip On
For a child under 18 in Ontario, changing a legal name generally requires the written consent of every person who is lawfully entitled to custody of, or access to, the child — with limited exceptions set out in the law. For a child under 12, the child's own consent is not required (a child 12 or older usually must consent). If another parent's consent cannot be obtained, there are specific steps and exceptions, and that is where the process can become a legal question rather than a notarial one. Confirm your situation with ServiceOntario, and if consent is contested, with a family lawyer, before you book.
How to Commission the Declaration Online — Step by Step
- Complete the ServiceOntario application, unsigned. Fill in the child's and applicants' details, leaving the sworn portion for the appointment.
- Confirm who must consent and sign. Make sure everyone whose consent is required is ready to join.
- Book the service and a time. Choose statutory declarations when you book online. Slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto).
- Join the video call and verify identity. Each signer holds up valid government photo ID.
- Swear and sign. Each person swears or affirms and signs while the notary watches.
- The notary commissions it and applies their seal.
- Submit to ServiceOntario with the rest of the application and fee.
What to Bring to Your Online Appointment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| The completed application/declaration, unsigned | Each person swears and signs in front of the notary. |
| Valid government photo ID (each signer) | Required on camera. |
| The child's details | To confirm the declaration matches the child. |
| Anyone whose consent is required | Each consenting person should sign and be witnessed. |
| A payment method | The flat fee plus HST is taken before release. |
Booking note: If two parents in different cities must both consent, both can join the same video call. Call (613) 434-5555 if you are unsure who must sign.
Online or In Person — How to Decide
| Your situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Consent is agreed, valid ID, forms ready | Online by video | Fastest; commissioned under O. Reg. 431/20. |
| Two parents must consent from different cities | Online by video | Both join the same call with their own ID. |
| Consent is contested or a court order applies | See a family lawyer | A notary cannot resolve a dispute. |
| No working camera or quiet space | In person | The notary must see and hear each signer clearly. |
Why Commission It Online
Family paperwork is easier when you do not also have to coordinate a trip to an office — especially if two parents need to sign and live apart. Online, both can join the same short video call from different cities, swear their parts, and have the notary commission everything in one sitting. Same-day slots are often available. The trade-offs are the usual ones: each signer needs a working camera, a quiet space, and valid photo ID, and the forms must be complete.
A Quick Scenario
A parent in Ottawa and the child's other parent in Toronto agree to change their seven-year-old's surname after a remarriage. They complete the ServiceOntario application, both join the same fifteen-minute video appointment, each shows photo ID, swears the consent and declaration, and signs while the notary watches. The notary commissions it, and the applicant submits the package to the Office of the Registrar General.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing a required consent. Everyone with custody or access generally must consent — confirm before booking.
- Signing before the appointment. Swear and sign in front of the notary.
- Assuming the notary processes the change. ServiceOntario does that; the notary commissions the sworn part.
- Expired ID. Valid government photo ID is required on camera for each signer.
Where Clients Book From Across Ontario
Because the appointment is by video, you can join from anywhere in Ontario while your matter stays an Ontario vital-statistics matter. Clients book from across the province:
- Greater Toronto Area — Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oshawa, Pickering
- Eastern Ontario — Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, Belleville, Brockville, Pembroke
- Central Ontario — Barrie, Peterborough, Orillia, Newmarket
- Southwestern Ontario — Hamilton, London, Kitchener–Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Windsor, Brantford, St. Catharines
- Northern Ontario — Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins
Pricing and Booking
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Child name change declaration | $19.90 per stamp | Flat rate plus HST, online or in person |
| Each additional stamp / seal | $19.90 | Same flat rate, no bulk tiers |
Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. To book, choose statutory declarations when you book online, or call (613) 434-5555.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both parents have to consent to change a child's name in Ontario?
Generally, changing the name of a child under 18 in Ontario requires the written consent of every person who is lawfully entitled to custody or has a right of access, with limited exceptions. For a child under 12, the child's own consent is not required. The exact consent rules and any exceptions are set by ServiceOntario and Ontario's Change of Name Act, so confirm your situation before you book. The notary commissions the sworn portion; it does not decide who must consent.
Can I notarize the child name change declaration online?
Yes. The sworn declaration or consent that the application requires can be commissioned before an Ontario notary public over a secure video appointment under O. Reg. 431/20. You show valid government photo ID, swear or affirm the statement on camera, and sign while the notary watches. It is an Ontario vital-statistics matter, so this suits Ontario applicants.
Who signs the declaration?
The applicant — usually a parent or lawful guardian — signs and swears the declaration, and any other person whose consent is required may also need to sign. Each person who swears joins the appointment with their own valid government photo ID. The notary verifies identity and witnesses the signatures.
What do I need for the appointment?
A device with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, valid government photo ID for each person signing, and the completed application or declaration, unsigned. You sign in front of the notary, so do not sign beforehand. Have the child's details ready.
How much does it cost?
Minute Notary charges a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST, the same online or in person. Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown before you pay, and nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.
Does the notary process the name change?
No. The notary commissions the sworn declaration or consent. The name change itself is processed by ServiceOntario through the Office of the Registrar General, which sets the forms, fees, and supporting documents required.
Final Recommendation
If you are changing the name of a child under 12 in Ontario, first confirm with ServiceOntario which forms and consents your situation requires — and make sure everyone entitled to custody or access agrees. Then commission the sworn declaration online in a short video appointment, with each signer's photo ID ready. The notary makes the declaration official; ServiceOntario processes the change. If consent is contested, talk to a family lawyer before booking.
Book Your Appointment
Need to notarize a child name change declaration in Ontario? Minute Notary commissions it by secure video — flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST.
- Book online: Request an appointment
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Statutory Declarations
- Related guide: Statutory declaration online in Canada
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Ottawa time)
Sources
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