Commissioner for Oaths
A Commissioner for Oaths administers legal oaths and attests affidavits, affirmations and declarations. We follow a tried-and-tested process to ensure your sworn documents are administered according to Canadian law.
Book an Appointment →What Is a Commissioner for Oaths?
A Commissioner for Oaths is an individual authorized by the Province of Alberta to take an oath when someone signs a statutory declaration or affidavit. Commissioners are appointed under the Notaries and Commissioners Act by the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, and are also authorized to administer affirmations and solemn declarations.
The role is administrative: the oath shows that the correct procedure was followed when the document was created and signed — it does not prove or disprove the statement itself.
Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public?
Both roles are set out in Alberta’s Notaries and Commissioners Act, and they are not the same thing. This is what separates them.
Which one does your document need?
Most everyday paperwork — a statutory declaration for a name change, a common-law or single-status declaration, a consent letter for a child travelling, a land title transfer, a professional membership form — is signed in front of a Commissioner for Oaths, and that is what we provide.
Where a document is destined for use outside Alberta, or you have been asked for a certified true copy, that is a Notary Public’s work rather than a Commissioner’s. Send us the instructions you were given before you book and we will tell you which one it calls for — there is no charge for asking.
Send us your requirement →Affidavit vs. Statutory Declaration
Affidavit
A sworn statement contained within a legal document. It must be verified by the oath or affirmation of the person making the statement.
Statutory Declaration
A sworn statement contained within a document, verified by the solemn declaration of the individual making it — used when the legislative authority for an affidavit is absent.
Documents We Can Commission
Our Commissioners for Oaths can administer oaths, affidavits and solemn declarations for a wide range of purposes:
How to Prepare
Three Things to Have With You
An appointment takes a few minutes when these are in order, and cannot proceed without them.
Valid photo identification
Government-issued photo ID. We have to be satisfied of who you are before an oath can be administered, and expired identification cannot be accepted.
Your completed, unsigned document
Prepare the document in full beforehand — the content is yours, not ours. Leave the signature line blank: it must be signed in front of the Commissioner, not before.
A witness, if your document needs one
Some documents call for a separate witness in addition to the Commissioner. Where yours does, bring your own witness, with their own valid photo ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Commissioner for Oaths actually do?
A Commissioner for Oaths is appointed under Alberta’s Notaries and Commissioners Act to administer oaths, affirmations and solemn declarations, and to witness your signature on an affidavit or statutory declaration. The role is procedural: it records that the oath was properly administered and the document properly signed. It says nothing about whether the contents are true — that responsibility remains yours.
Is a Commissioner for Oaths the same as a Notary Public?
No. A Notary Public can do everything a Commissioner can, and in addition can certify true copies, issue notarial certificates, and act on documents intended for use outside Alberta. A Commissioner for Oaths acts in Alberta, for documents used in Alberta, and cannot certify a true copy.
Can you certify a true copy of my passport or diploma?
No — certifying true copies is a Notary Public’s function, not a Commissioner’s. If you have been asked for a certified copy, send us the instructions you were given and we will confirm what is actually being requested before you book.
Do I need an appointment?
An appointment is recommended and can be booked online for either Edmonton office. Walk-ins are taken when the schedule allows.
What identification do I need?
Valid government-issued photo identification. Expired identification cannot be accepted. If your document also requires a witness, that witness must attend with their own valid photo ID.
Should I sign the document before I arrive?
No. Leave the signature line blank. The document has to be signed in the Commissioner’s presence, after the oath or declaration is administered — a document signed in advance has to be redone.
Can you write or complete the document for me?
No. You are responsible for the contents of your document, and a Commissioner for Oaths does not give legal advice or draft documents. Bring it completed.
Which documents do you commonly commission?
Statutory declarations and affidavits of most kinds: change of name applications, common-law union and single-status declarations, land title transfers, consent letters for children travelling abroad, letters of invitation, passport and travel document declarations, and professional membership and licence applications.
Two Edmonton Locations
Commissioner for Oaths services are available at both offices.
Need a Document Commissioned?
Book your appointment at our Downtown or South Edmonton location today.
Book an Appointment →