This page has information for B.C. Notaries Public (B.C. lawyers and B.C. non-lawyer notaries) who notarize documents intended for authentication in B.C.
A B.C. lawyer or notary must be on file with the B.C. Authentication Program before documents that they have notarized can be authenticated in B.C.
Yes. Please email BCAuthentication@gov.bc.ca for an up-to-date list of all B.C. lawyers and notaries currently on file with our office.
If you are a B.C. lawyer or notary and wish to be put on file with our office in order for your notarized documents to be provincially authenticated, please email BCAuthentication@gov.bc.ca for detailed instructions.
Please note that this is not an automatic process. Any B.C. lawyer or notary must apply to be on file with this office, regardless of their standing or history with their professional society.
The process to be put on file with our office can take a few weeks, as it will involve either the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) or the Society of Notaries Public of BC (SNPBC).
If you are already on file with our office, you do not need to reapply and will remain on file so long as you are in good standing with your society (LSBC or SNPBC).
There are a few options:
If all or part of the document is in a language other than English, it must first be translated (according to the Translation Requirements) and then notarized as a set (original document with translation).
If you are both translating and notarizing the document, you must also attach a declaration attesting that you speak both languages and have translated the listed document(s) yourself, and that you certify the accuracy of the translation. See Translation Requirements for a sample declaration.
Instructions on this website recommend that clients check with their B.C. lawyer or notary before starting the translation process.
Reasons that a notarized document may not be accepted for provincial authentication can include:
Other reasons that we may not be able to authenticate a notarized document include:
If you require assistance, please email the B.C. Authentication Program.
Email: BCAuthentication@gov.bc.ca