Our Story

A legacy of integrity
Prior to opening her Vancouver notary office, Juliana Castro had the opportunity to mentor and work alongside prominent notaries in Vancouver, notably her late father (and life-mentor) Marco Castro. Mr. Castro, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, was commissioned by the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2007. Mr. Castro ran his notary practice in downtown Vancouver and was deeply involved with the local community. His other company Provisa Consulting helped Canadians, Brazilians, Latin Americans and Europeans with immigration, visa applications, interpretations and translations in English, Portuguese and Spanish languages for 20 years from 1999 to 2019. Juliana feels honored to resume the family notary practice and carry on with Mr. Castro legacy of trust and integrity.

Working Hours

Monday - Friday 08:30AM-05:00PM
Saturday - Sunday CLOSED

Juliana Castro Notary Public

info@notarycastro.com

(604) 696-6042

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Services

Trusted Notarial Services

Let us help with your notarial matters and ensure that your legal interests are protected. The preparation and execution of documents are handled with care and privacy. You are in good hands.

Last Wills / Estate Planning

Every adult should have their estate planning in order, even those who do not own assets or have minor children. Your Last Will will layout your wishes including the appointment of executors to manage your estate, the designation of guardians of minor children, and the distribution of your property.

Incapacity Planning

Planning for the unthinkable can be daunting. At Notary Castro we will be glad to guide you through the process and help you prepare your Power of Attorney, Representation Agreement, and Advance Directive. Let's get your legal affairs in order and give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Real Estate & Mortgages

We will take great care of your legal interests whether you are buying or selling your real estate property in British Columbia. Let us be part of this important moment in your life and walk you through the conveyancing process. We can also assist with mortgage refinancing, title transfers, and transmissions.

Estate Planning

At Notary Castro, your downtown Vancouver Notary Public, we take great care in preparing your estate planning documents. If you pass away in British Columbia without a valid Will, you will not have a designated estate representative (an executor) to manage your personal and financial affairs. Nor will you have designated guardians to care for your minor children. Dying without a valid will (or dying intestate) entails a more complicated, costly, and long probate process. In addition, your property will be distributed according to the local laws which might conflict with your wishes.

Even if you don’t have children or own valuable assets in BC, having a Will is still essential. Your designated Executor will have the authority to manage your personal and financial affairs such as arranging your funeral service, preparing your tax returns, dealing with government agencies, applying for death benefits, and closing bank accounts.

Notarizing Documents

If you need an affidavit or declaration to be notarized, you will swear under oath or affirm to the veracity of their content. Once we have taken your oath or affirmation and you signed the document in our presence, we will then certify that you understood the content of the document and swear it to be true, provided adequate photo identification, that you were in our office at the time of signature and that you executed the document in our presence. Always bring 2 pieces of valid government-issued identification to your appointment.

  • Affidavits
  • Statutory Declarations
  • Attestations of Signatures
  • Certified True Copy of Documents
  • Travel Authorization of Minor Children
  • Letters of Invitation for Travel
  • Authentications of International Documents
  • Insurance Loss Declarations

Authentication & Legalization (Apostille)

We authenticate foreign documents that require legalization, equivalent to the apostille system for Hague Convention member countries. Canada is not a member so the apostille system is not applicable here and documents need to follow the proper legalization process.

Affidavits & Statutory Declarations

Affidavits and statutory declarations are legal documents that contain written statements of facts. Once these solemn documents are executed before a notary public their effect is the same as if sworn or affirmed in front of a court judge. Always bring 2 pieces of ID to your appointment.

Travel Authorization Letters

Authorization letters are presented to airport immigration officers when minor children are traveling alone, or only one parent/guardian is accompanying them. These letters show that minors have permission to travel abroad without a guardian.

Certified True Copy of Original Documents

To have a certified true copy, just bring the original document and we will take care of the rest. We will make a copy, stamp it, and certify it to be a true copy of the original document presented. The process usually takes no more than 15 minutes.

Incapacity planning: preparing for the unexpected

Powers of Attorney

Power of Attorney (POA) is used to appoint a trusted individual (your attorney) to act on your behalf. This instrument becomes an essential tool in situations when an adult loses mental capacity or physical capability due to an unforeseen circumstance such as disability, illness, or injury. In an Enduring POA, you give your attorney(s) the authority to continue to act on your behalf even if you lose mental capacity. POAs are used to manage financial and legal affairs only, not personal or healthcare matters.

Representation Agreements

Representation Agreement is a legal document to be used when planning for health and personal care matters while you are still alive (your Last Will will guide your executor after you pass away). You can designate your preferred representative(s) to act on your behalf if you need assistance, are not capable or do not have the mental capacity to make decisions involving your health and personal care.  Having a Representation Agreement in place will give you peace of mind and facilitate quality of life until the end of life.

Advance Directives (Healthcare)

Adults (19 years or older) in BC have the freedom and authority to consent or refuse certain healthcare matters (e.g. blood transfusion). An Advance Directive is a written instrument in which an adult gives or refuses consent to specific types of medical treatments or procedures. In order to be valid and be carried out by healthcare providers, the Advance Directive must be clear and be executed while the adult still has the mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of this important document.