Is a consulate or embassy asking you to provide notarized and authenticated documents? Do you need to have a notary’s signature authenticated? Do you have a legal document to submit abroad?
The Secretary of the Order is the person authorized to certify the original signature of a notary, whether a current member or a former member of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, on a document (notarized or not). An Authenticity Certificate is then attached to the document.
Authenticity Certificate
The Authenticity Certificate confirms not only that the original signature on a notarized or non-notarized document matches a notary’s signature registered with the Secretary of the Order, in compliance with the Notaries Act, but also establishes the status of the notary.
Quality Certificate
The Quality Certificate establishes that a person is a practising notary duly entered on the roll of the Ordre des notaires du Québec. The Quality Certificate can also establish that the person in question used to be a notary or that he or she never was.
Note: We cannot certify the signatures of lawyers or notaries public.
How to obtain an authenticity or quality certificate
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1
Fill out the Application for Certification formFill out the paper application form,
If you have any questions, please contact:
The Certificate Officer
By phone:
514-879-1793, Ext. 5640
1-800-263-1793, Ext. 5640
Or by email:
service.certificats@cnq.org -
2
Send your application form and the documents to be certified to the Chambre des notairesMail the documents to the address below or use a carrier or courier of your choice:
Chambre des notaires du Québec
Attention: Certificate Officer
101-2045 Stanley Street
Montréal, QC H3A 2V4Drop off your documents (no appointment required)
Steps to follow when dropping off your documents at our office Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Address:
101-2045 Stanley Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2V4On the ground floor, look to your right:
- Fill out the Certification application form on the table.
- Place the form and your document(s) in an envelope (provided on the table) and write “Certification” on the envelope.
- Place the envelope in the black box to the right of the door leading to the front desk.
Basic price:
- $60 (plus taxes) per certificate
- $30 (plus taxes) as of the fifth certificate in the same file
– We issue one certificate per document.
– A document may contain several pages as long as they are stapled together.
– You must specify how many certificates you need. Contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to verify its requirements, if necessary.Turnaround: Applications are processed within 7 business days following the day your documents are received.
Payment methods:
- Mastercard or Visa
- Certified cheque or money order
Only applications from members of the Order may be entered in the notary’s monthly statement of account.
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3
Certificate and documents will be returned to you using the delivery method you chose on the formAt the Chambre des notaires
The Authenticity or Quality Certificate and your documents will be placed in secure lockers in the lobby of the Chambre. We will call or email you once your application has been processed to let you know how you can pick up your documents.
By mail or courier
By regular mail (no fees, delivery not guaranteed)
With Purolator (at your expense; rates vary by destination)
With your return envelope, at your expense (Xpresspost, courier)
Additional certification required depending on the country of destination
IMPORTANT – Additional certification Please note that your document may require additional certification by the embassy or consulate of the country where it will be sent. As Canada has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, a document to be produced abroad may require certification by a variety of authorities. It is recommended that you seek information about the formalities from the authorities in question.