Notaries Public

Duties

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

Code of Conduct

Notaries public in Alberta are governed by the Notaries and Commissioners Act and associated regulations.

Notaries are also subject to a code of conduct set forth in the regulation which has been passed under the act. They must not notarize or participate in the preparation or delivery of a document that is:

• false
• incomplete
• misleading
• deceptive
• fraudulent

Notaries must also not participate in the preparation or delivery of any document that:

• has the false appearance of being issued by a court or other legitimate authority
• is intended to deceive any person
• is otherwise lacking valid legal effect

For more information on Organized pseudolegal commercial argument (OPCA) litigants and dealing with such individuals, see OPCA Litigants – The Phenomenon of Freemen on the Land (Law Society of Alberta).

How to apply

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

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

Step 1. Read the Application Process and Review Criteria document

Read the Application Process and Review Criteria thoroughly, for information about the requirements before applying.

Step 2. Submit a New or Renewal Application: Access the Notary Public Portal

New and renewal applications for the notaries public program must be submitted online through the:

• Notary Public Portal

This service requires an Alberta.ca account.

• If you do not have an Alberta.ca account, create one here:
  • Alberta.ca Account | Alberta.ca
• Once you have logged into the portal, select "Start Application" under the New or Renewal tile.
• Read the application process and review criteria details.  Agree to them by selecting "Continue."
• Select whether your application is New or a Renewal.
• Complete all the required fields and provide copies of the required documents by attaching them to your submission.
• Once received, the office will review your application for completeness. Notary clerks may contact you for additional information as they review your application.

Next steps:

• Once your application has been reviewed by a Notary clerk, it will be scheduled for review by the Notaries Public Advisory Committee.
• The committee meets 3-4 times per year, and you will receive notification of the decision by email.

Publications

Instructions and codes of conduct

These booklets:

• were made to help notaries public 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.

Related

• Document authentication for other jurisdictions and countries
• Commissioners for Oaths