Straight answers to the questions we hear most — on appointments, notarizations, and estate planning.
Wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, and capacity.
Appointments, hours, fees, and what to expect when you visit our Richmond office.
Walk-ins are accepted but we prefer that you make an appointment to ensure a Notary is available and you do not have to wait.
Our regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Saturday and Sunday visits may be available by appointment or special arrangement with the notary. Please call ahead to check availability.
House and hospital visits may be available by special arrangement, for an additional fee, on a case-by-case basis. Please call ahead to check availability.
If you are a business and require multiple notarizations, we may be able to visit your office upon request.
We don’t have a fee schedule posted online due to variations in documents, transactions, etc. Please call or email us with your specific request and we will give you a quote.
What to bring, identification requirements, certified copies, and the apostille process.
Along with the form you need notarized, you will need two pieces of government issued identification. Examples are: Driver’s License, BCID Card, BC Services Card, Passport, Nexus Card, Birth Certificate and Social Insurance Card. At least one piece must have a photo and a signature.
The custodian needs to bring two pieces of government issued ID, proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residence (ie. passport, Canadian citizenship card or certificate or Permanent Residence Card) and proof of current address (utility bill from current or last month showing name and address (ie. Fortis gas, BC Hydro).
The Government recommends Canadian children (under 19 years of age) who are not traveling with both parents carry a consent letter with them from the parent/parents or guardian not accompanying them. The requirements for the letter can be found here, along with a template form (LINK).
We do not draft letters or declarations. You would have to prepare the document yourself and bring it in to have your signature witnessed. We recommend that you ask the entity requiring the document from you for any template or specific form that they may require from you.
“Notarized Copy” and “Certified Copy” are often used interchangeably. Technically, however, “Notarized” means that the document was signed in the presence of the Notary. A “Certified Copy” or “True Copy” refers to a photocopy of a document that has been stamped by a Notary to certify that, it is a true copy of the original document. A certified copy does not verify the authenticity of the original document. You must bring in the original document.
No. Notaries in BC cannot provide legal advice on Family law matters or witness a Separation Agreement. For such matters we recommend you consult a lawyer.
Notaries are able to witness Affidavits required for Court.
No. Notaries in BC cannot provide legal advice with regard to Corporate law. For such matters we recommend you consult a lawyer.
An Apostille is a single-step certificate that verifies your document’s notarization so it will be accepted in another country. As of January 2024, Canada is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so most documents headed to another member country now use an Apostille — no need for the older, multi-step Authentication process.
It isn’t quite the same as Authentication, which is still required for documents going to a country that is not part of the Convention. The process varies by destination country, so it’s always best to confirm current requirements with that country’s consulate.
Either way, the process starts the same: your document is signed and witnessed in our office by the notary. From there, give us a call and we’ll walk you through whichever process applies and how long it will take.
Wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, and questions about mental capacity.
A Will states how your estate is to be distributed and takes effect after you die. A Power of Attorney appoints someone to manage your legal and financial affairs and is void on death. A Representation Agreement appoints someone to assist you in making decisions or to make decisions about your healthcare.
If there is any concern about their mental capacity we will require a doctor’s letter. Please provide us with their doctor’s name and contact information and we will request a letter from their doctor prior to making an appointment. At the appointment, your parent will need to meet with the Notary alone, without the assistance of anyone. They must be able to speak English, Mandarin or Cantonese fluently.
If an adult is no longer mentally capable of managing their legal and financial matters and they do not have a Power of Attorney or Representation Agreement, someone would need to apply to be appointed their legal guardian. This would require an application to the BC Supreme Court and would require the services of a lawyer. Here is a link to NIDUS for further information.
If you die without a will, your estate will be divided according to the law (Wills, Estates and Succession Act). For example, if you have a spouse and no children, your estate passes to your spouse. If you have a spouse and you had children together, your spouse get the first $300,000 and half the balance; the other half of the balance is divided equally among your children. Here is a link to NIDUS for further information.
No, Notaries in BC are not authorized to prepare probate documents on your behalf.
If your question isn’t answered here, just ask. We’ll walk you through it in plain language — no obligation.
