Documents to Sort Before the Long Weekend

mrdnotary

Oct 8

2 min read

If your family is getting together this Thanksgiving weekend, here's a short checklist of paperwork worth sorting first.

Most notarizations take under 10 minutes — but the window before a long weekend is short. Monday, October 12 is Thanksgiving, which means the last chance to get anything stamped before the holiday is this Friday. Walk-ins are welcome Tuesday through Friday, no appointment needed.

Here are the four documents that tend to come up most around family gatherings:

1. Vehicle Ownership Transfer (Family Donation)

Gifting a car to a family member — a child heading off to school, a parent who needs a set of wheels — requires a Statutory Declaration to make the transfer official in Ontario. Both parties need to bring valid government-issued photo ID. The notarization fee is $45.

2. Consent to Travel (Minor with One Parent)

If you're travelling with your children over the long weekend and the other parent isn't coming, border services or airlines may ask for a signed, notarized Consent to Travel document. This is especially common for cross-border travel into the US but can be requested for international travel more broadly. Bring your photo ID and your child's passport or ID. The fee is $45.

3. Affidavits (Family or Estate-Related)

Thanksgiving often brings family matters to the surface — property discussions, estate planning conversations, OSAP declarations. If a family member needs an affidavit signed before the end of the week, this is the time to sort it. Commissioning starts at $30; notarization at $45.

4. Life Certificate (For Pension Recipients Living Abroad)

If you have a family member collecting a Canadian pension from outside the country, their pension provider may require a periodic Life Certificate to confirm they are still receiving the benefit. A notary can sign this. If your family member has mobility limitations, mobile service is available within 30 KM of downtown Kitchener — from $45.

What to Bring

For any of the above, bring:

Valid government-issued photo ID (digital copies are not accepted)
Your completed document (drafting services are not offered — the document should be filled out before your visit)

Hours This Week

Thursday, October 8: 11am – 7pm
Friday, October 9: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, October 11: By appointment — call or email to arrange
Monday, October 12: Closed (Thanksgiving)

Walk-ins are welcome Tuesday through Friday. For Saturday or mobile appointments, reach us at mrdnotary@proton.me.

This post is for information purposes only. No legal advice is given.