You may have signed a number of contracts or legal documents in your life, but certain documents may need to be signed in the presence of a notary.
The purpose of a notary is to ensure that institutions can put their faith in contracts that are being signed by various parties. Notaries witness the signing of important legal documents, verify the identity of the people signing them, and ensure that they are not signing under duress. Further, notaries make sure that those signing a legal document are aware of what is contained within the contracts.
These days, you can have your documents notarized online from wherever you happen to be thanks to online notary services.
Types Of Documents That Can Be Notarized Online
A variety of documents may be notarized online, including the following:
- Affidavits
- Attestations
- Insurance loss declarations
- Invitation letters
- Home transfers
- Home loan refinancing documentation
- Passport application documentation
- Sponsorship letters
- Statutory declarations
- Travel letters
These documents may be notarized in person with a notary, or may also be notarized online. Having said that, not all documents can be notarized virtually, such as certified true copies of original documents. In this case, the notary is required to compare the physical original document to the copy to verify that the copy is true and authentic.
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How Do Online Notaries Work?
Online notaries allow legal documents to be notarized remotely without having to be physically present in front of a notary. The process typically follows these steps:
- Book an appointment with a notary public.
- Sign in to your account and connect with your notary through a live audio-video call.
- The notary will confirm your identity against a scanned photo ID.
- Upload your documents.
- The notary will witness you and any other party signing the document electronically.
- The notary completes the notarization.
- Pay for the services via credit card.
- Download the notarized document.
Best Online Notary Services In Canada
The following online notaries are among the best in Canada.
NotaryPro
NotaryPro has been around since 2016 and has since become one of the top-rated notary services in Canada. The service makes use of the latest technology and processes for a faster and easier notarization experience. NotaryPro offers both in-person and online notarization at affordable prices.
The following are just some of the documents NotaryPro can authorize online:
- Affidavits
- Statutory declarations
- Travel consent letters for children traveling abroad
- Declaration affirming parentage
- Legal name change application
- Blank statutory declaration
- Insurance claims
- Common law status affidavits
- Passport applications
- Pension attestations
- Residency documents
- Permanent residency card applications
- Affidavit waiving vaccinations for religious exemptions
There are several perks to using NotaryPro for online document notarization:
- Professionalism. Each team member at NotaryPro is fully licensed and qualified as a notary public who are all lawyers and paralegals in good standing with their provincial Law Society.
- Safety. NotaryPro’s digital signature platform is safe and includes a robust record-keeping feature that protects each document’s integrity. Further, the video calls make use of encrypted passwords, and all documents are backed-up and stored safely.
- Convenience. There’s no need to visit a notary in person. Instead, everything can be done online from the comfort of your home at a time that is most convenient for you.
The cost for using NotaryPro — both for in-person and online notary services — is $34.95.
Click Notary
Clock Notary is another online notary platform that allows Canadians to have important documents notarized without having to visit a notary in person. The company is made up of registered notaries that work across all provinces in Canada and have undergone their respective province’s registration process.
It’s important to note that Click Notary is not a law firm, so they are unable to offer legal advice.
The following are some of the documents that can be authorized online by Click Notary:
- Affidavits
- Attestations
- Name change applications
- Statutory declarations
- Insurance claims
- Travel letters
Here are some reasons why Click Notary makes a viable option for remote document notarizing:
- Simplicity. Click Notary takes the complexity out of notarizing legal documents. You’ll be directly connected with a registered notary public, who will notarize your documents within minutes from wherever you are.
- Security. ClickNotary makes use of electronic signature software that adheres to the Federal PIPEDA act and each province’s UECA legislation that deals specifically with eSignatures.
- Speed. Your documents will be notarized within minutes with no need to wait.
- Professionalism. Every associate with Click Notary is registered in their respective province.
Click Notary charges $39 for the first document and $19 each for subsequent documents.
Downtown Notary
Another option for remote document notarization is Downtown Notary, which offers professional and affordable notary public services accessible from anywhere for the ultimate convenience. The company was founded in 2014 and has grown over the years to an expansive network of notaries serving Ontario residents.
Downtown Notary can notarize many documents online, including the following:
- Affidavits
- Oaths
- Court forms
- Statutory declarations
- Letters of invitation
- Separation agreements
- Law Society of Ontario Administrative Call applications
Here are some reasons to use Downtown Notary to have your documents notarized online:
- Full range of services available. In addition to online notarization, Downtown Notary also offers house calls, mobile notary services, official document translation, wills, and powers of attorney.
- Affordable. Downtown Notary offers a cost-effective alternative to having documents notarized compared to traditional notary public services.
- No hassle. Simply create an account, log in, and get connected to a licensed notary in your province. Your document will be notarized within minutes.
Downtown Notary charges $35 for the first notarized document and $17.50 for each additional document.
Final Thoughts
There are many instances in which a legal document may need to be notarized. Rather than making a physical trip to a notary or paying high prices for in-person services, your documents can be notarized online from the comfort of your home, which can save you time, hassle, and money.
