What is a Notary?

A Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the Minister of Justice to serve the public in non-contentious matters. Notaries Public administer oaths and take and receive affidavits, affirmations and declarations. A Notary Public is frequently asked to make a notarial copy of a document for official purposes, such as signing passport documents or certifying copies of birth certificates.

What is a Notarization?

Notarization is a fraud deterrent process that ensures the certain facts in regards to the signer and the document are authentic and can be trusted. However, Notaries do not verify the content of the notarized document.

IDs needed at notarization?

At every notarization proper identification must be provided to verify the identity of the principal requesting the service. Please bring along two pieces of ID to your appointment. One of the two pieces of ID must be a photo ID that includes a signature. Expired ID is not considered a valid ID.

Example of valid IDs:

• Canadian passport

• Driver’s license

• Provincial ID card

• Health card (Note: Saskatchewan health card does not include a photo you will also need to bring along a photo ID).

Are there different kinds of Notarial Acts?

The following are the notarial acts that can be performed in Saskatchewan:

Affidavit - A written statement formally confirmed by swearing an oath or affirming before a competent authority, such as a Notary Public. Affidavits are often used as evidence in court.

Affirmation - A solemn statement that is not religious that has the same effect as an oath. An affirmation can be used if a person objects to swearing an oath. Attest To affirm the truth of a statement or bear witness to something.

Jurat - The part of the document that describes when, where, and before whom an affidavit was sworn or affirmation received. The jurat appears at the end of the document and must be completed by the Notary Public.

Oath - A solemn statement accompanied by swearing to a Supreme Being or something sacred to the person taking the oath.

Statutory Declaration - A formal declaration made in a prescribed form that has legal force similar to an oath or affirmation.

Which notary act is right for me?

If the notarial wording is not found on the document the signer is advised to contact the receiving agency of the document on which type of notarization is required. Alternatively, the principle can contact their attorney for advice or choose which notarization to use. The notary can only explain the effects and purpose of each type of notarization but cannot choose for the principle.

What is an Authentication/Apostille/Legalization?

In Canada, authentication is offered by provincial and federal agencies. While it is called authentication in Canada, in other countries it may be known as apostille or legalization. Authentication refers to a certificate issued by the Ministry of Justice or Global Affairs Canada to authenticate the signature of a notary public and other public officers on the documents to be used in overseas countries. The authentication certifies the notary’s signature and commission.

Can you offer legal advice?

No, notaries public in Saskatchewan cannot offer legal advice. In addition, notaries do not certify the validity of the content of the notarized document(s).