Commissioner of Oaths

• City of Cambridge generated documents (planning appeals);
• Committee of Adjustment Applications;
• Domestic and Foreign Pension documents (Proof of Life);
• Financial and other banking documents (provided they specifically ask for a Commissioner of Oaths and only the identity of the deponent is being confirmed);
• Statutory Declaration of Apprenticeship hours;
• Canadian Citizenship forms;
• Delayed Statement of Birth;
• Adult Name Change document;
• Child Name Change document;
• Statutory Declaration of Lost Identification (must include the police report number);
• Sworn Statement for the Transfer of a Used Motor Vehicle in the Province of Ontario;
• Affidavit for Vehicle Ownership Change
• Statutory Declaration for OSAP;
• Statement of Common Law Status / Supporting Children;
• Travel letter / affidavit (parents’ permission to allow children to travel outside of the country)
• Affidavit of Unregistered Vehicle;
• Statutory Declaration for Motor Vehicle Deals Compensation Fund;
• Immunization Health Form; and
• Age of Majority or BYID Card applications.

A Commissioner of Oaths is not a Notary Public. If you require a document to be "notarized" as opposed to "commissioned", the person who administers the oath or affidavit is a Notary Public - generally a lawyer and not a Commissioner of Oaths. The Municipality does not have a Notary Public. 

• Any documents specifically requiring a notary public;
• Invitation letters;
• Wills, Living Wills, Codicils to Wills or Estate Settlement documents;
• Power of Attorney;
• Divorce or separation documents;
• Custody documents;
• Real estate matters (including sale, purchase and mortgages);
• Court, legal or civil issue related documents;
• Declaration or Claimant and Indemnity;
• Declaration of Replacement of Shares;
• Statutory Declaration of Progress Payment Holdback Security Deposits;
• Statement of Arrears;
• Declaration of a Translator; and
• Certified true copies.

• The document must be in English.
• You must present one original piece of government-issued photo identification (for example, a valid driver's license). A Health Card is not considered a valid form of government-issued photo identification. 
• You must be 18 years of age to take an oath in regards to a document. If you are under 18, it will be at the discretion of the Commissioner to make the determination if the child is capable of knowing right from wrong. 
• If a witness is required, bring someone who knows you. The witness must not be your spouse, child or relative. They may need to swear an Affidavit of Witness that you are who you claim to be and that they saw you sign the document. 

• Read the document completely in advance. This is extremely important as you will be swearing that the statements in the document are true. We cannot provide you with any advice with respect to the documents you are swearing. When signing under oath, you are swearing as if you are testifying in a court of law that the document contains true statements. 
• Bring everything that you will need, including any letter of instruction from the person or office requesting the sworn statement. 
• If a sworn statement indicates that there are copies of documents to be attached, you must bring those original documents with you, as well as the copies to be attached. Otherwise, the oath cannot be administered by the Commissioner. 
• Do not sign the document in advance. You must sign the document in the presence of the Commissioner. 

A Commissioner of Oaths can sign a travel form. A travel form is recommended by the Canadian Border Services Agency when a minor is travelling with only one parent or with any person other than both parents. The parent or parents not travelling with the child can fill out the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad form at the City Office. 

The process will take time to complete and the same $36.00 + tax fee and above conditions apply. Please allow sufficient time and call ahead to ensure a Commissioner will be available. If you have not planned ahead for this, you may not be able to obtain the travel form and it may compromise your ability to travel across international borders. 

Under no circumstances will a travel form be signed by a Commissioner without the appropriate parent(s) present or without valid government issued photo identification. 

• We have the right to refuse to commission documents where there is a possibility that we may be required to testify in a court of law. 
• We reserve the right to refuse to commission documents for persons who are not capable of understanding them. 

No. A Commissioner of Oaths cannot notarize documents. Documents that specify a signature required by a Notary Public will be referred to local legal firms or other vocations authorized to notarize documents.

Commissioner of Oaths services are provided between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, at the Service Cambridge Counter located on the First Floor of Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street, Cambridge, ON N1R 5W8.

An appointment is not required; however, it is recommended that you call ahead before coming to City Hall to confirm that a Commissioner will be available to sign your document. 

A person swearing an oath or affirming to a document must appear in-person before the Commissioner of Oaths. If you are not able to come into City Hall in-person and require an accommodation, you can make this request by contacting clerks@cambridge.ca or by calling 519-740-4680, ext. 4079. 

You must present the following documents to the Commissioner:

• The document requiring a Commissioner of Oaths signature (the document should be complete but should not be signed until before the Commissioner).
• One valid piece of government-issued photo identification (no photocopies) for each individual who will be making a declaration. 
• If commissioning a document requires verification of your address, you must bring proof of address. For example, Health Cards must be presented with another identification form (e.g., utility bill, cheque stub, T4 statement, etc.) to verify your address. 

The signing of the document must be completed in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths. The Commissioner shall not commission the document if it was not signed their presence.

The Commissioner will administer the declaration, oath, or affirmation in advance of completing the Jurat.

The process is finalized when the Commissioner completes the Jurat and affixes their stamp or seal to the document.

The Commissioner of Oaths shall satisfy themself of the genuineness of the signature of the deponent and administer the oath or declaration in the manner required by law