Frequently Asked Questions

1. General

What services do you provide?

While we are able to provide a wide range of commissioning and notary services if required, we focus on providing notary public services to businesses looking to register for a new Ontario Registrant Identification Number (RIN). In particular, we help businesses draft and commission / notarize statutory declarations. For more information, please visit our Services page.

What / Who is a Commissioner of Oaths?

A Commissioner of Oaths is an official who administers oaths or affirmations. They are regulated under Ontario's Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act.  Every Ontario-licensed lawyer is automatically a Commissioner of Oaths. 

What / Who is a Notary Public?

In Ontario, a notary public is someone who has been appointed by the Government of Ontario pursuant to the Ontario Notaries Act, and has received their certificate of notarial appointment from the Official Document Services department of the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.

The role of a notary public is to verify that signatures, marks, and copies of documents are true or genuine. Every notary public automatically has all the powers of a Commissioner of Oaths. 

Are you a lawyer? Do you provide legal advice/services?

Yes! Every notary public at RINregister.ca is also a lawyer in Ontario, and are members in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. Our signatures are verifiable by the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services' Official Document Services. 

However, despite the fact that we are lawyers, RINregister.ca limits its services to notarial services only and DOES NOT provide any legal advice. If you require legal advice, we recommend using the Law Society of Ontario's Law Society Referral Service. 

Where is RINregister.ca located?

For more information, please visit our Contact page. 

How do I book an appointment?

To book an appointment, please head on over to our Book Now page or contact us directly.

2. The Ontario Registrant Identification Number (RIN)

For more information on RIN’s (i.e. what a RIN is) and how to obtain one, you can find out more by reading our RIN Guide.

3. Oaths, Affirmations & Statutory Declarations

What is an Oath / Affirmation?

An oath is a promise to tell the truth based on a religious belief, whereas an affirmation is a non-religious promise to tell the truth.  

What is a Statutory Declaration?

A statutory declaration is a document used outside of court settings that is used by a person to assert the truth of any fact(s) in the document. It is authorized by the Canada Evidence Act and the Ontario Evidence Act. The declaration is of the same force and effect as if made under oath an a person is guilty of a criminal offence if they make a false statutory declaration.

Why do I need a Statutory Declaration to obtain my RIN?

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation requires you to swear that certain business details are true in order to obtain a RIN. Your statutory declaration will contain such details about your business.

4. Notarizing Your Statutory Declaration

Why do I need to notarize Statutory Declaration?

Your statutory declaration needs to be notarized otherwise it would be just a statement rather a Statutory Declaration where you are asserting the truth of the fact(s) contained in it; it would not have any legal force.

How can RINregister.ca help me notarize my Statutory Declaration for my RIN?

We can help you notarize (in addition to draft) your statutory declaration. We provide both online and in-person notary public appointments. To book an appointment, please head on over to our Book An Appointment page. 

Are online notary services legal?

Yes. Traditionally notary public and commissioning services required clients to physically be in the presence of a notary public. However, due to Covid-19, the Government of Ontario has allowed notary public and commissioning services to be provided online in Ontario.  Learn more here. 

Is there a difference between online vs in-person notary services?

No. The only difference is that that, for a statutory declaration notarized online, it will indicate that it was completed online rather than in-person.

Are there any requirements to book an online notary public appointment?

Yes. The requirements include:

• Your document must already be in electronic format or if it is a paper copy you must have a scanner to scan and create  an electronic copy.

• You must have access to a phone or computer / laptop with a webcam. We use Zoom as our web conferencing program but you do not need to download the Zoom application. 

• You must be physically in Ontario.

How does the in-person notarization process work?

Step 1 - Book your appointment.

Step 2 - Attend at your appointment with one of our notary publics. You must bring two pieces of valid ID so the notary public can verify your identity. The notary public will copy down or take a picture of your ID.

• Acceptable forms of ID include: Driver’s Licence, Passport, PR card, Citizenship Card, Ontario Photo Card. Health Cards are NOT acceptable ID. 

Step 3 - The notary public will administer a solemn declaration and have you sign your statutory declaration before them. Do NOT sign your statutory declaration prior to your appointment. Thereafter the notary public will sign certifying that the statutory declaration has been administered properly. 

Step 4 - Before you leave the notary public make a photocopy of your photo ID and your signed statutory declaration. They will also receive payment from you. and provide you with a receipt. The forms of payment accepted include: cash, credit card, and debit card.

How does the online notarization process work?

Step 1 - Book your appointment and pay online. Thereafter, we will send you a confirmation email with an ​invitation link via web conferencing (Zoom). 

Step 2 - Prior to your appointment, you will need to send us an email with (1) your document to be notarized, and (2) photocopies of two pieces of ID.

Step 3 - Attend at your online appointment with one of our notary publics. Please have your two IDs on hand for identity verification purposes. Similar to the in-person appointment, a solemn declaration will then be administered before the notary public will ask you to sign. You will need to scan the statutory declaration that you signed before the notary public before concluding the online notary appointment.

Step 4 - Following your appointment you will need to scan the statutory declaration that you signed and email it back to the notary public. The notary public will then print the statutory declaration, sign it, and mail it back to your designated address by Xpresspost. The notary public will send you a confirmation email containing a digital copy of the completed declaration as well as the tracking number for your statutory declaration.

• Ready to book an appointment? Book now.

• Have more questions? Contact us directly if you have additional questions or to book an appointment directly.