Notaries and commissioners

What is a notary public

Notaries public are part of our legal system. Every notary public can:

• administer oaths or take affidavits, affirmations or declarations
• attest the oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations
• certify and attest a true copy of a document
• witness or certify and attest the execution of a document

Notary public seal

A notary public must have a seal which shows:

• the notary public’s name
• the words "Notary Public"
• the words "Province of Alberta"

Notary public as appointed

Notary public appointments are issued under the Notaries and Commissioners Act.

Notaries public by status

These people are notaries public because of their office or status:

• judges
• lawyers or students-at-law
• members of the Alberta legislature
• members of Parliament from Alberta
• Canadian senators who were a resident of Alberta at the time of their Senate appointment

Apply – Notary public

Appointments for notaries public are issued under the Notaries and Commissioners Act. To apply for an appointment as a notary public you must:

• be at least 18 years old
• be a resident of Alberta
• have no criminal record
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• meet certain eligibility requirements

Application process

Thoroughly read the Application Process and Review Criteria for more information about your requirements.

Email Official Documents and Appointments to get an application: [email protected].

What is a commissioner for oaths

A commissioner for oaths can’t act as a notary public. However, a notary public can act as a commissioner for oaths.

Commissioners for oaths can:

• administer oaths
• take and receive affidavits, affirmations or declarations
• attest the oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations

Signature and stamp

A commissioner for oaths – when acting as such – shall, on each document they sign, print or stamp beside their signature so it’s easy to read:

• their name
• the words "A Commissioner for Oaths in and for Alberta”
• if appointed – the expiry date of their appointment
• if they are acting by virtue of office or status – the office or status which applies to them

Commissioner for oaths as appointed

Commissioner for oaths appointments are issued under the Notaries and Commissioners Act.

Commissioners for oaths by status

These people are commissioners for oaths because of their office or status:

• judges
• lawyers or students-at-law
• members of the Alberta legislature
• members of Parliament from Alberta
• Canadian senators who were a resident of Alberta at the time of their Senate appointment
• Metis settlement councillors
• municipal councillors
• trustees of school divisions or districts
• commissioned officers in the Canadian Armed Forces
• police officers

Apply – Commissioner for oaths

Appointments for commissioners for oaths are issued under the Notaries and Commissioners Act. To apply for an appointment as a commissioner for oaths you must:

• be over 18 years old
• be a resident of Alberta
• have no criminal record

Application process

Instructions and codes of conduct

These booklets:

• were made to help notaries public and commissioners for oaths do their duties
• are not legal advice

Notaries public information

Notaries public must follow the standards in the:

• Notaries Public Regulation
• Information, instructions and code of conduct for notaries public

If there are differences between the booklets and the Notaries and Commissioners Act or the Notaries Public Regulation, the act and the regulations govern.

Commissioners for oaths information

Commissioners for oaths must follow the standards in the:

• Commissioners for Oaths Regulation
• Information, instructions and code of conduct for commissioners for oaths

If there are differences between the booklets and the Notaries and Commissioners Act or the Commissioners for Oaths Regulation, the act and the regulations govern.