Remote Online Notarization (RON) in Ontario

Legal Requirement Since 2020

In Ontario, a notary public can now perform their duties remotely using audio-visual technology (like Zoom or Teams).

• The Law — The Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act (CTAA) was amended to allow remote commissioning.
• The Process — The notary and the client must be able to see, hear, and communicate with each other in real-time.
• Identification — The notary must verify the client's identity using a valid government-issued ID.

The Client Experience

• Digital Signatures — Most clients use a digital signature tool (like DocuSign or Adobe Sign).
• Live Witnessing — The notary watches as the client signs the document on camera.
• Digital Stamp — The notary then adds their digital seal and signature to the document.

Accepted Documents

• Most Affidavits and Declarations — Including OSAP applications, name change declarations, and more.
• Wills and Powers of Attorney — These have additional strict requirements for remote witnessing (two witnesses, one of whom must be a lawyer or paralegal).
• International Documents — Some documents for use outside of Ontario may still require 'wet ink' signatures and in-person notarization.