Where can I find a notary public?

Who needs a notary?

Why would I need a notary?

Who are notary public?

And where can I find a notary public?

Who needs a notary?

Have you recently been told that you need to hire a notary, or have documents notarized in Manitoba, but you do not know what that means? A notary, or notary public, is a person authorized by the government to administer oaths, take legal statements, and authenticate legal documents. For example, notaries can take affidavits, affirmations, and declarations. They can also verify contracts, property deeds, and government forms.

Why would I need a notary?

The purpose of using a notary is to prevent fraud. When a notary administers an oath, takes a statement, or authenticates a document for you, they have several tasks. First, they must confirm your identity. Second, if you are signing a document, they must confirm that you know what is being signed. Third, they must confirm that you are doing this of your own free will.

How do you know when a document is notarized?

When authenticating legal documents, a notary will put their seal and signature on the document. A seal is an impression or stamp using ink or crimping. Michael Dyck’s notary stamp leaves an imprint instead of ink. This imprint and signature is how you know that the document has been verified by a notary and is “notarized.” However, when taking legal statements within Manitoba, the document does not need the notary’s seal and signature for the document to be valid. Once a document has the seal of a notary, it is presumed by law to have been signed by the people identified in the document. Certified copies under the seal of a notary are also presumed to be true and exact copies of the original document.

Who are notary public?

In Manitoba, some practicing lawyers are notaries. Non-lawyers may also be notaries, but they must renew their notarial commission every two years and cannot give legal advice.

What are some common documents that may need to be notarized?

• Birth certificates

• Marriage or divorce contracts

• Proof of non-marriage

• Powers of attorney

• Invitation to visit

• Degrees and student transcripts

• Business contracts

• Adoption papers

• Property deeds

• Contracts and commercial instruments

• Protest notes

• Bills of exchange

• Foreign documents

Where can I find a notary public in Manitoba?

Michael Dyck is both a lawyer licenced to practice in Manitoba and a notary, so he can help you notarize documents at his head office in Winnipeg or his satellite office in Steinbach, Manitoba. Please use the contact form below to connect with Michael Dyck today.

Rees Dyck Rogala Law Offices are open during the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic. We are taking precautions in order to limit the spread of the virus. We are conducting interviews and meetings by phone or video conference and ensuring enhanced cleaning and social distancing policies if clients must attend our office in person.

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About the author

Michael Dyck is a partner at Rees Dyck Rogala Law Offices. He represents clients primarily from Winnipeg, Steinbach, and rural Manitoba. He has extensive experience helping people charged with criminal offences and focuses on building legal strategy with clients. To read more of his articles, please visit his partner's website TomRees.ca.

Steinbach Regional Secondary School: November 16, 2016

I am speaking to the Law classes today at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School. I am going to have a little contest for the kids in the class. The winner will be contacted by email after the contest closes on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 12:00 noon.

Step 1

Click here to go to the CanLII Connects website if you haven't been there already.

Step 2

Fill out the form below to enter to win a $50 gift card of your choosing (e.g. Tim Hortons, Starbucks, 7-11).

About the author

Michael Dyck is a partner at Rees & Dyck Criminal Defence. He represents clients primarily from Winnipeg, Steinbach, and rural Manitoba. He has extensive experience helping people charged with criminal offences and focuses on building legal strategy with clients. To read more of his articles, please visit his partner's website TomRees.ca.

Cell Phones and Driving in Manitoba

Update

This blog post outlines the basics for cell phone use and driving in Manitoba. But, the penalties have increased since I first wrote this post in 2015. It is a good idea to review the two update posts as well.

• Cell Phones and Driving in Manitoba (June 2016 Update)
• Cell Phones and Driving in Manitoba (August 2018 Update)

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SteinbachOnline had a great article recently about the Steinbach RCMP actively looking for drivers who are using their cell phones while driving. Check out the full article here, Steinbach RCMP Nab Texters. Forty people were given tickets for $203.80 and drivers also face 2 demerits as well. Some people thought it was okay to talk on their cell phone if they used speaker phone and others thought it was okay to text while waiting at a red light.

In order to help clarify what you can and cannot do with a cell phone while driving, the best thing is to turn to the laws under the Highway Traffic Act here in Manitoba. Section 215.1 is the where the offence is defined and outlined.

A "hand-operated electronic device" is defined to include:

• cellular telephone
• another electronic device that includes a telephone function and is normally held in a hand or needs a hand to operate the device
• an electronic device that can send or receive email or text-based messages and is normally held in a hand or needs a hand to operate the device (e.g. an iPod touch)
• any other device listed in the regulations of the act

The word "use" is defined to include:

• holding the device in a position in which it may be used
• operating any of the device's functions
• communicating by means of the device with another person or another device
• looking at the device's display
• any other actions listed in the regulations of the act

So, to be clear, even if you glance down at your iPhone that is sitting in the cupholder of your car to check the time or preview a message, you are "using" the device and breaking the law. If you use your phone to play music in your car and you switch songs using the phone, you are "using" the device. If you mount your cell phone on the dash of your car, you are "using" the device every time you look at the screen of your phone, whether the phone's screen is actually on or not. You don't have to be holding the phone in your hand to be guilty of the offence, you simply have to be using it in one of the ways the law descibes above.

The law says you are NOT allowed to use a hand-operated electronic device while driving a vehicle on a highway UNLESS:

1. before using the device, you safely drive your vehicle OFF THE ROADWAY and then keep the vehicle stationary while using the device, or
2. the device is set up to allow hands-free use as a telephone and it is used in a hands-free manner (this is why using a Bluetooth headset is still legal or a built in phone system in your vehicle)
3. you are using a hand-operated electronic device with your hand to call or send a message to a police force, fire department or ambulance service about AN EMERGENCY (so you're allowed to make calls to 911 for emergency situations while driving)

So, now you hopefully know more about what you can and what you cannot do with a mobile phone in your car in Manitoba. If a fine and demerits aren't enough to encouarge you to follow the rules, using a phone while driving draws your attention away from the road and can lead to motor vehicle accidents. If you are texting before an accident and someone is injured or killed, you would likely be facing criminal charges and maybe even a jail sentence.

My advice is to buy a good Bluetooth headset to take phone calls and then leave your cellphone in a back seat or the trunk so it is out of reach and temptation.

Related articles

• Cell Phones and Driving in Manitoba (August 2018 Update) (michaeldyck.ca)
• Cell Phones and Driving in Manitoba (June 2016 Update) (michaeldyck.ca)
• How much does it cost if you get a DUI? (And why it is cheaper to hire a helicopter) (michaeldyck.ca)
• Can You Have Alcohol in Your Car (michaeldyck.ca)
• Preventing a Break and Enter in Your Home: Tips From a Criminal Defence Lawyer (michaeldyck.ca)

About the author

Michael Dyck is a partner at Rees & Dyck Criminal Defence. He represents clients primarily from Winnipeg, Steinbach, and rural Manitoba. He has extensive experience helping people charged with criminal offences and focuses on building legal strategy with clients. To read more of his articles, please visit his partner's website TomRees.ca.