NOTARY PUBLIC FAQs
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What is a notary?
A notary public prepares, attests, authenticates and certifies legal documents (such as deeds, agreements, powers of attorney) for use anywhere in the world. His signature and official seal renders them acceptable, as proof of the matter attested by him, to the foreign jurisdiction where they are to be used.
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When might you need to consult a notary?
Notarial services are often required when dealing with overseas matters. A notary acts as an impartial and legally trained witness to authenticate and certify the execution of documents required or intended for use outside the UK.
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What notarial services do we provide?
The notarial services we provide include the following:
- attesting the signature and execution of documents
- authenticating the execution of documents
- authenticating the contents of documents
- administration of oaths and declarations
- drawing up or noting (and extending) protests of happenings to ships, crews and cargoes
- presenting bills of exchange for acceptance and payment, noting and protesting bills in cases of dishonour and preparing acts of honour
- attending upon the drawing up of bonds
- drawing mercantile documents, deeds agreement and wills in English and (via translation) in foreign languages for use in Britain, the Commonwealth and other foreign countries
- taking evidence in England and Wales as a Commissioner for Oaths for foreign courts
- the provision of Notarial copies
- doctors and dentists examination submission
- powers of attorney, corporate records, contracts
- international domain name transfers
What should you bring with you?
All notaries are required to appropriately identify all clients. Clients bring their original passport and an official proof of address, such as a photocard Driver's Licence or original bank or building society statement.
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To seek guidance as to alternative forms of identification, please contact our notary.
Failure to provide sufficient identification will mean our notary will be unable to act.
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How long will it take?
It is difficult to estimate how long a matter will take without our notary first being fully aware of the facts. However, you should expect the notarisation of a simple document to take at least half an hour.
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The fees charged will be quoted after you have discussed the matter fully with our notary, prior to any work being undertaken. However, you should be aware that we charge an hourly rate of £200 + VAT, with the minimum fee charged being £70 + VAT. Should your document require legalisation or an apostille, further fees will be payable to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to the embassy of the receiving jurisdiction or other appropriate body. Please see the Apostille& Legalisation section of our website for further details.
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Who regulates notaries?
Notaries form the third (and oldest) branch of the legal profession in England and Wales. They are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. They are independent of solicitors and barristers and are not regulated by the Law Society (the regulatory body for solicitors) or Bar Council (the regulatory body for barristers). Further details can be obtained from The Notaries Society
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