The words, without the jargon.
You don't need any of these to get started — the flow asks what you're trying to accomplish. But when a form or a clerk uses one, here is what it means.
Illustrative scene- Acknowledgment
- A declaration before a notary that a signature on a document is the signer's own, made voluntarily — common on documents headed to the United States, where it differs from a sworn jurat.
- Affiant
- Another word for deponent — the person who swears or affirms an affidavit. Common in cross-border documents; Ontario practice usually says deponent.
- Affidavit
- A written statement of facts that the maker swears or affirms to be true before a commissioner or notary, used chiefly in court and formal filings.
- Affidavit of execution
- A sworn statement by a witness confirming they saw a document, often a Will, being signed; commonly required for probate.
- Apostille
- A certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country under the Hague Apostille Convention, which Canada joined in 2024.
- Attestation clause
- The wording near a signature line stating that the document was signed in the presence of the named witnesses, who signed in the presence of the signer and each other.
- Authentication
- Government confirmation of the signature or seal on a document so a foreign authority will accept it; the step before or in place of an apostille depending on the country.
- Certified translation
- A translation accompanied by the certification of a certified translator or by a sworn translator's declaration confirming completeness and accuracy.
- Certified true copy
- A photocopy that a notary has compared against an original document and certified as a true and complete reproduction.
- Commissioner for Taking Affidavits
- A person authorized under Ontario law to administer oaths, affirmations and declarations for documents used within Ontario.
- Commissioning
- The act of administering an oath, affirmation or declaration and completing the jurat so a document is properly sworn.
- Consent to travel letter
- A letter in which a parent or guardian consents to a child travelling abroad with one parent or another adult — commonly notarized so border authorities can rely on it.
- Consular legalization
- Certification of a document by the destination country's embassy or consulate, used for countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention. Usually follows authentication at home.
- Deponent
- The person who makes and swears or affirms an affidavit or declaration.
- Embossed seal
- A raised impression pressed into paper by a notary, sometimes required on original documents.
- Execution
- The formal act of signing a document, together with whatever witnessing, sealing or commissioning its validity requires.
- Exhibit
- A document attached to and referred to in an affidavit; each exhibit is endorsed and initialled by the commissioner.
- Exhibit stamp
- The certificate a commissioner places on each document attached to an affidavit — 'This is Exhibit A referred to in the affidavit of…' — signed by the commissioner.
- Guarantor
- A person who confirms another's identity or supports their application — for example on passport applications. Distinct from a commissioner, though some forms require one of each.
- Hague Apostille Convention
- The international treaty under which a single apostille certificate replaces chain legalization between member countries. Canada acceded with effect in 2024.
- Interpreter declaration
- A sworn statement by an interpreter that they accurately interpreted the proceedings or document for a person who does not share the document's language — used when a deponent needs interpretation at commissioning.
- Invitation letter
- A letter, often notarized, in which a Canadian host invites a foreign national to visit and describes accommodation and support — commonly used in visitor-visa applications.
- Jurat
- The clause at the end of an affidavit stating when, where and before whom it was sworn or affirmed, completed and signed by the commissioner.
- Legalization
- The multi-step process of certifying a document for use in a non-Hague country: notarization, government authentication, then consular legalization.
- Life certificate
- A form on which an official — often a notary — attests that a pension recipient is alive, required periodically by foreign pension authorities. Also called proof of life or attestation de vie.
- Notarial certificate
- A separate certificate signed and sealed by a notary describing the notarial act performed — for example certifying a true copy or the execution of a document.
- Notarization
- The act of a notary certifying signatures, copies or facts and applying a notarial seal or certificate.
- Notary Public
- An officer authorized in Ontario to witness signatures, certify true copies, administer oaths and affirmations, and issue notarial certificates, including for documents used outside Ontario.
- Oath / affirmation
- An oath is a religious promise to tell the truth; an affirmation is a solemn non-religious promise. Both carry equal legal weight and perjury consequences.
- Power of Attorney
- A legal document appointing someone to act for you — for property (finances) or personal care (health) — which must be signed and witnessed correctly to be valid.
- Remote (online) commissioning
- Commissioning conducted over a live two-way audio-visual connection, permitted in Ontario for many documents subject to identity and procedural requirements.
- Statutory declaration
- A solemn statement of facts declared to be true, made under the Canada Evidence Act or Ontario Evidence Act where a sworn court affidavit is not required.
- True copy
- A complete and accurate reproduction of an original document, certified as such by a notary who has compared the copy against the original.
- Venue
- The heading on an affidavit or declaration naming the jurisdiction where it is sworn — for example 'Province of Ontario' — which frames the jurat.
- Wet-ink signature
- An original signature made by hand in pen on paper, sometimes required instead of an electronic signature.
- Witness
- A person who observes a signature and signs to confirm it. Ordinary witnessing is not commissioning: a witness attests to the signing, not to an oath.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Acceptance of any document is always the receiving organization's decision. Prices shown exclude applicable tax unless stated.