Question 1

What documents do I need to have ready?

Accepted Answer

Please have a valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or Ontario photo card) and requested documents to be uploaded via our portal.

For mobile signing at your place, please have the original documents you need notarized ready for the visit. If you're signing on behalf of a company, have corporate documentation on hand as well.

Question 2

Do I need an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work by appointment so we can plan the online signing or come to you. Our online booking only takes a minute process; same-day slots are usually available most weekdays. We offer remote online signing as well as mobile in-person service across Ottawa, where the notary travels to your home or wherever you are. We do not offer signing at our office yet.

Question 3

Are you open on weekends?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are open 7 days a week, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, including Saturday and Sunday. A weekend notary appointment costs the same flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST as a weekday one — there is no weekend surcharge and no after-hours fee. Saturday and Sunday slots cover all three ways of working with us: an online appointment for eligible affidavits and statutory declarations, an in-person appointment at the Orléans (Ottawa) office, or a mobile visit within the Ottawa coverage area. Evening slots run every day as well, which is what most clients use when they cannot take time off work. Weekend and evening times fill first, so book online to hold your slot rather than arriving unannounced.

Question 4

How long does the notarization process take?

Accepted Answer

Most notarizations are completed in minutes once we begin. Certified copies and signature witnessing typically take 10-15 minutes; affidavits and statutory declarations take 15-20 minutes; complex multi-party signings may take 30-45 minutes.

Question 5

Do you offer rush or same-hour service?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when our calendar allows. Simply book online to check the available time slots and grab a same-hour spot. We do our best to fit urgent deadlines in at no extra charge — our flat $24.95 notary per-stamp rate applies regardless of urgency. For genuine emergencies (deadline today, document needs to be filed by close of business), we’ll always do our best to fit you in.

Question 6

Can children be present during notarization?

Accepted Answer

Yes — parents arranging travel-consent letters or family-related documents are welcome to have children present during the visit. The minor doesn’t typically sign anything (consent letters are signed by the non-traveling parent) but may need to be present for ID verification depending on the document.

Question 7

Do you offer remote or virtual notarization?

Accepted Answer

Yes — remote (virtual) commissioning is allowed in Ontario for most documents, so we can often handle your signing entirely online. We also offer mobile in-person service: we come to your home (or wherever you are) across Ottawa for documents that still require a wet-ink seal or an in-person appearance, which some IRCC, court, and international agencies prefer. We do not offer signing at our office yet. Book online with your document and deadline and we’ll confirm whether remote online works or whether mobile in-person is the faster route.

Question 8

Can you notarize a document for a family member?

Accepted Answer

We avoid notarizing anything where the notary has a personal stake, but you’re welcome to bring family members as clients. The line we don’t cross is a conflict of interest: the notary can’t be a party to the document or benefit from it. Relatives signing their own paperwork is completely fine, and a family member can come along to interpret as long as they aren’t named on the document.

Question 9

Does the website chat assistant save my conversation?

Accepted Answer

The chat assistant is a convenience tool for general questions about our services. Your conversation stays in your browser for the current session only — it clears when you close the chat or the browser tab, and it is not a formal record of your appointment. Anything about pricing, eligibility, or your booking is confirmed in the secure booking flow, not the chat, and the assistant cannot make binding offers or confirmations. Please don’t share sensitive ID numbers (such as your SIN or full passport number) in the chat.

Question 10

What is a Notary Public?

Accepted Answer

A Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the provincial government to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. In Ontario, Notaries Public are appointed under the Notaries Act by the Attorney General.

Question 11

Can my IRCC document be rejected if it’s notarized incorrectly?

Accepted Answer

Yes — IRCC and other Canadian agencies will reject documents that aren’t properly certified. The notary seal must be applied correctly, the certification statement must match what the receiving agency requires, and the original document must be presented at the notarization. We notarize hundreds of IRCC documents each year and know what each application stream requires. If you’re unsure what your application needs, bring the IRCC instructions with you and we’ll match the certification to them.

Question 12

Do you provide certified translations for IRCC?

Accepted Answer

We don’t translate documents ourselves, but we do notarize the translator’s affidavit (called a “Statement of Translator”) that IRCC requires when submitting non-English/French documents. You bring us the translated document plus the translator’s declaration; we verify the translator’s identity and notarize their affidavit. The fee is the same flat rate as any notarization ($24.95 per stamp + HST).

Question 13

What's the difference between a notarized copy and an apostille?

Accepted Answer

A notarized copy is a certification by an Ontario Notary Public that a copy matches the original — accepted by IRCC, Canadian agencies, and many international institutions. An apostille (or, in Canada, "authentication and legalization") is an additional government-level certification required by some countries that have signed the Hague Convention. We can notarize the document, then advise you on whether an apostille is needed and how to obtain one through Global Affairs Canada.

Question 14

Can you notarize documents for use outside Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can notarize documents for international use. However, some countries may require additional authentication (apostille / Global Affairs Canada legalization). Please let us know the destination country so we can advise on any additional requirements before your appointment.

Question 15

What's the difference between a notary public and a commissioner of oaths?

Accepted Answer

Both can administer oaths and witness affidavits, but a Notary Public can do more. A commissioner of oaths is limited to taking affidavits and statutory declarations, while a Notary Public can also certify true copies of documents, witness signatures on contracts and deeds, and notarize paperwork meant for use outside Ontario. If you need a certified copy of a passport or a document headed overseas, you need a notary — and that’s exactly what we do here.

Question 16

Which documents can be completed online in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

Eligible affidavits, statutory declarations, and selected sworn Ontario, IRCC, and court forms can be commissioned online under O. Reg. 431/20. At Minute Notary, signature notarization (including travel consent letters), certified true copies of paper or identity documents, wills, powers of attorney, trusts, negotiable instruments, documents of title, and documents that require a wet-ink original for apostille or legalization are handled in person. Contracts, custom forms, and documents for use abroad may require review, and the receiving organization must accept remote commissioning. Select your exact document when booking to see whether it is online-eligible, requires review, or must be completed in person.

Question 17

Can you refuse to notarize my document?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and sometimes we have to. We can’t proceed if we’re unable to verify your identity, if the document looks incomplete or altered, if you don’t appear to understand what you’re signing, or if it seems like you’re being pressured. It isn’t personal — that safeguard is what makes a notarization mean something. If we can’t go ahead, we’ll explain why and tell you what to fix so you can come back.

Question 18

Can you give me legal advice about my document?

Accepted Answer

No — and that’s true of every notary in Ontario. We verify your identity, witness your signature, and apply the seal, but we can’t tell you whether a document is right for your situation, draft it for you, or advise on legal strategy. For that you’ll want a lawyer, or for immigration matters a licensed RCIC. Once you know the document is the one you need, we’re glad to notarize it.

Question 19

What happens if I lose my notarized document?

Accepted Answer

A notarization can’t simply be re-printed — the seal applies to that one signed original. If you lose it, bring a fresh copy of the document and we’ll notarize it again (our flat $24.95 per stamp + HST still applies). We keep a record of the notarial acts we perform, so we can confirm a notarization took place, but that record isn’t a replacement for the document itself. Our tip: scan or photograph notarized documents before you submit them.

Question 20

Does an Ontario notary need a seal or stamp?

Accepted Answer

Ontario doesn’t legally require an embossed seal for a notarization to be valid — under provincial rules the notary’s signature and details can be enough. In practice, though, most agencies, courts, and especially foreign and IRCC offices expect to see a stamp or seal, so we apply one as standard. If your receiving agency wants a specific format, bring their instructions and we’ll match them.

Question 21

Can you help with a letter of invitation for visitors to Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we can witness your signature and notarize a letter of invitation for family or friends applying to visit Canada. We confirm your identity and witness the signing, but we can’t draft the letter or advise on the visa application itself; that’s for you or an immigration professional. Bring the finished letter and your photo ID and we’ll notarize it at the usual flat rate.

Question 22

Can I bring a friend or family member to translate during the appointment?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you’re not comfortable in English, you’re welcome to bring an interpreter. The interpreter cannot be a party to the document being notarized, but a family member or friend who isn’t named on the document is fine. For sworn statements (affidavits, statutory declarations), the interpreter may need to also sign a translator’s declaration; we’ll handle that during the appointment.

Question 23

Do you offer mobile notary services?

Accepted Answer

Yes — mobile signing at your home is how we work right now. We come to you across Ottawa (homes, hospitals, retirement residences, real-estate closings, after-hours). We do not offer in-person signing at our office yet. The price is the same flat notary rate ($24.95 per stamp/seal) plus a flat $60 mobile fee, plus HST. The mobile fee is charged once per trip, no matter how many documents we sign while we are there. Book online or call — same-day mobile slots are sometimes available.

Question 24

How much do notary services cost?

Accepted Answer

Our pricing is simple and flat: $24.95 for the first notary stamp/seal and $24.95 for each additional stamp, plus HST. The same rate applies to every service — affidavits, declarations, certified copies, travel letters, and more. No rush fees, no complex-document surcharges. HST applies to all services in Ontario.

Question 25

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash, debit, and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard). E-transfer is also available for appointments booked in advance. Payment is due at the time of service.

Question 26

Does it cost more if more than one person signs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The first signer is included, and each additional person who signs is charged as one more stamp — $24.95 plus HST per additional signer. For example, one document signed by two people comes to $49.90 before HST. Your full total is always shown before you confirm.

Question 27

What does an in-person will or power of attorney cost?

Accepted Answer

Three estate documents are priced per document rather than per stamp when we sign them with you in person: a power of attorney for property (finance), a power of attorney for personal care, and a last will and testament. Each one is a flat $115 plus HST. That is a package: it covers witnessing the signing, the witness we supply, and the affidavit of execution, so there is nothing further to add. Each document is its own $115 — a power of attorney signed together with a will is $230 plus HST, and a property power of attorney signed together with a personal-care power of attorney is likewise $230 plus HST. A mobile visit adds the flat $60 travel fee once for the trip. If you come to us for an affidavit on its own, including an affidavit of execution for probate, that is charged as an affidavit at the usual $24.95 per stamp/seal rate. These documents require a physical appearance, so they cannot be completed over video.

Question 28

Q: How much does it cost to witness a Will or Power of Attorney at my home?

Accepted Answer

Our fee is $115 per Will or Power of Attorney package, plus a $60 mobile service fee for travel to your location. This service is for witnessing the signing only. We do not draft, review, or provide legal advice regarding Wills or Powers of Attorney.

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