A commissioner for oaths is a person authorized by law to administer oaths and affirmations and to witness sworn documents such as affidavits and statutory declarations. If your document is going abroad, a qualified Notary Public can do the same – online, with a notarial certificate delivered within 24 hours.
A commissioner for oaths is an official authorized to administer oaths and affirmations and to witness sworn documents such as affidavits. Commissioner of oaths means the same thing.
In the UK, solicitors commonly act as commissioners for oaths, a role set out in the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889. In the US, a notary public usually fills the role.
A commissioner does not check whether your statement is true or give legal advice.
Try a law firm or solicitor, and bring your ID and the unsigned document.
A statutory declaration for use in the UK is made in person before a commissioner for oaths, a solicitor or a notary. Our guide to the statutory declaration in the UK explains the wording and who can witness it.
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Upload the document and complete a guided biometric and ID check from your phone. A qualified Notary Public then certifies it with seal, signature and a notarial certificate.
No appointment and no office visit. You receive the certified PDF within 24 hours of identity verification.
Both administer oaths, but only a Notary Public adds a notarial certificate that authorities abroad recognize.
| Commissioner for oaths | Notary Public | |
|---|---|---|
| Oaths and affirmations | Yes | Yes |
| Certified copies | Sometimes | Yes |
| Certificate recognized abroad | No | Yes |
Is your document going to another country? Then the notarial version is the one to get.
More than 40,000 customers have used NotaryPublic24, most of them for documents going abroad. Support is available online throughout.
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A commissioner for oaths is a person authorized by law to administer oaths and affirmations and to witness sworn documents such as affidavits and statutory declarations. Commissioner of oaths is the same role. The commissioner verifies your identity and signature but does not confirm that your statement is true.
No. Both can administer oaths and witness sworn statements, but a Notary Public can also certify copies and issue a notarial certificate that is recognized abroad. A Notary Public can act as a commissioner for oaths; a commissioner for oaths cannot act as a Notary Public.
It depends on where you are. In the UK, solicitors commonly act as commissioners for oaths, and a Notary Public can administer oaths too. In the US, a notary public usually performs this role under state law. For a document going abroad, a Notary Public is normally the right choice.
The two forms are an oath and an affirmation. An oath is sworn on a religious text or with religious wording; an affirmation is a solemn promise to tell the truth without any religious reference. Both carry the same legal weight, and you can choose whichever suits you.
For a document going abroad, yes, and more. A Notary Public certifies your affidavit or declaration with a notarial seal and certificate that is recognized internationally. For a document used only locally, a commissioner for oaths may be what the receiving party expects; check their instructions.
With International Notarization the identity verification is a guided biometric and ID check that you complete online. Your appointed Notary Public then certifies the document. If your receiving party specifically requires an oath administered in person, contact support before ordering.
Wills and codicils, which require in-person witnessing, and documents where the receiving authority explicitly demands an in-person act. If you are not sure, contact support before ordering and you will have an answer within minutes.
Within 24 hours of identity verification.
A notarial act by a qualified Notary Public is what courts, embassies and authorities abroad recognize. Many of them also require an Apostille on top. International Apostille includes the notarization if you need both.
The affidavit, declaration or letter as a clear scan or photo, and a valid passport or national ID for the identity check.
Yes. If your receiving party asks for a Notary Public in the UK, UK Notarization connects you with one online. After you upload your document and verify your identity, you have a short video call with a UK Notary Public, who then notarizes the document.
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