Legal document preparation in Windsor, ON

Choose help for the legal task

Describe the outcome you need when asking for help: preparing a will, granting a power of attorney, completing a claim, swearing a declaration or obtaining a certified copy. The Law Society of Ontario lists wills, powers of attorney, estates and real estate under lawyer services. It lists Small Claims Court litigation, traffic matters and tribunal hearings among paralegal services. [3]

Ask the provider to explain their role before you send personal records. Specify whether you want advice about your choices, drafting from your instructions, review of an existing form or attendance for signing. Ask who will review the wording and who will handle any filing. Request a written description of the work and the items you must supply.

Commissioning serves a narrower purpose: the commissioner administers an oath when you sign an affidavit or statutory declaration. Windsor's commissioner does not accept responsibility for the content and may decline a document because of concerns about its content or the signer's identity. Do not treat a commissioning appointment as a review of your legal position. [1]

Prepare for the signing appointment

For the municipal service, complete the document before visiting and bring a printed copy of the entire document. Leave the affidavit section unsigned. Bring government identification showing your name, photo and signature. If the affidavit requires several signatures, each signer must attend with identification and sign before the commissioner. [1]

For a lawyer or notary appointment, ask the office for its document and identification checklist. Tell the provider about the submission deadline and any instructions from the receiving organization. Ask whether you should bring originals, copies or supporting records, and confirm which signatures you should leave blank until the appointment.

Review names, addresses and the purpose of the document before signing. Ask the provider to explain any wording you do not understand. Keep the final document and the recipient's submission instructions together, and ask how you should correct an error discovered after signing.

Plan documents for use outside Canada

Contact the foreign recipient, consulate or embassy first. Ontario's Official Documents Services checks signatures and seals against its records and issues authentication certificates or apostilles; it does not validate document contents. Ontario also lists documents commissioned by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits among documents it cannot authenticate. Confirm eligibility before choosing a signing service. [2]

Some Ontario documents qualify for authentication without notarization. These include vital statistics documents and Ontario public postsecondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued since January 1, 2019. Use the provincial eligibility process for your specific document rather than assuming you must purchase notarization. [2]

An online authentication request does not complete the submission. Ontario requires you to deliver the request number, documents and payment by mail or in person. The Windsor service location accepts in-person submissions; Toronto's Official Documents Services office handles mail-in applications. Ontario requires hard copies for authentication. [2]

Compare quotes and separate government fees

Ask each provider to quote the same scope. List the documents, the advice or review you want, the number of signers and your deadline. Ask whether the quoted amount includes revisions, signing appointments, copies, submission work, taxes and expenses. Request a separate amount for government charges rather than comparing a drafting-only quote with a package that includes filing.

The chart shows Ontario authentication charges, not local lawyer fees or the cost of preparing a will. Ontario charges $16 to authenticate a notarized legal document and $32 for each listed government, court or public postsecondary document. These authentication charges are tax-exempt. Any required notarization or preparation involves a separate service. [2]

Court charges also need a separate budget. Ontario lists $108 to file a Small Claims Court claim as an infrequent claimant and $77 to file a defence. Other steps can carry additional fees. The province describes its webpage as an unofficial fee presentation and directs readers to the regulations for current schedules. Ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford court or enforcement fees. [4]

Selected Ontario authentication fees

Choose the right starting point

Your hiring checklist

1. Write down the document's purpose, recipient and submission deadline.
2. Ask the recipient which form, signatures and certification they require.
3. Describe whether you need drafting, legal advice, review or signing assistance.
4. Request a written scope and itemized quote, including revisions and submission work.
5. Confirm the appointment's identification, original-document and signer requirements.
6. Review the draft and resolve unclear wording before signing.
7. Confirm how you will receive final copies and who will submit them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can City Hall prepare or review my affidavit?

Windsor requires you to bring a completed document and states that its commissioner is not responsible for the content. Arrange separate help if you need drafting or advice about the wording. The commissioner may decline to sign. [1]

Can I get a will or power of attorney commissioned there?

Council Services lists both among the documents it will not commission. The Law Society lists wills and powers of attorney under lawyer services. Ask the lawyer what drafting and signing arrangements your appointment includes. [1] [3]

Does an apostille mean Ontario approved my document's contents?

Ontario's Official Documents Services verifies signatures and seals against its records. It does not validate contents. Contact the destination recipient about acceptance requirements before requesting authentication or an apostille. [2]

Should a preparation quote include court filing fees?

Ask the provider to state whether it includes them. Ontario charges for many Small Claims Court steps, including filing a claim or defence. Compare professional fees and court charges as separate items, and confirm current court fees before submitting. [4]