Commissioner of Oaths

Commissioners of oaths are persons who are empowered under provincial or state legislation to administer and witness the swearing of oaths or solemn affirmations in the taking of an affidavit for any potential legal matter. Commissioners of oaths are also empowered to witness any declaration as required under a statute. The person swearing an oath, making an affirmation or making a declaration is called a deponent or declarant.

A commissioner of oaths only certifies that the required oath or affirmation or declaration has been properly administered. Commissioners of oaths do not certify the truth of the statements contained in a document; which remains the responsibility of declarants or deponents themselves.

In most provinces and states, a commissioner of oath must administer the oath or declaration in the manner prescribed by law. This requires that the deponent be physically present before the commissioner of oaths. Also, the commissioner of oaths must be satisfied about the authenticity of the deponent’s or declarant’s identity and signature before a he or she can sign the document themselves.

Types of Oath

Where an oath is being witnessed by a commissioner of oaths, the deponent is required to confirm the following: “Do you swear that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true? So help you God”.

If this type of oath is not preferred, deponents may instead affirm by responding ‘yes’ to: “Do you solemnly affirm and declare that the contents of this affidavit as subscribed by you are true?”.

Where a solemn declaration is required instead, the deponent must declare in the positive to: “Do you make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath”.

In every case, the deponent must be physically present before the commissioner of oaths.

Affidavits

An affidavit is a document containing a statement that the deponent swears to be true to the best of their knowledge. The commissioner then signs as confirmation that the oath or affirmation was properly administered and that the deponent signed the document after taking the oath. Instead of a commissioner, a notary public or another officer of the court may administer oaths or affirmations and similarly sign in confirmation.

We can administer Oaths and Affidavits in a timely and cost-efficient manner at our offices in the Peel Region of Ontario on any working day, or by special arrangements anywhere.

Nominal charge of $15 (+GST) applies. Extra charges are levied for special arrangements. The charges are waived for our regular clients, when related to other services offered by us.