Individuals
Businesses
Visiting a Notary. What do you need to know?
It is almost always the case that you have been asked to see a notary because you have a document that needs to be used abroad. Seeing a notary is never a mere rubber-stamping exercise. In other words, the role of the Notary is not limited to certifying documents or signatures. The international duty of a Notary involves a high standard of care. This is not only towards the client but also to anyone who may rely on the document and to Governments or officials of other countries. These people are entitled to assume that a Notary will ensure full compliance with the relevant requirements both here and abroad; and to rely on the Notary’s register and records. Great care is essential at every stage to minimise the risks of errors, omissions, alterations, fraud, forgery, money laundering, the use of false identity, and so on.
Notarial certification
A notarial certification is one of the highest levels of certification you can receive from a public official serving to provide legal evidence and communicate and preserve information and authority. This is largely due to the additional training and expertise that notaries possess. When a notarised document is presented abroad, it offers greater reassurance to the recipient that the correct authentication has been completed. A notarial certification is internationally recognised at Law. When a Notary is required to notarise a signature, the notarial certificate confirms the witnessing and execution of the document and the verification of proof of identity documentation of the individual parties signing. If a Notary is required to certify the authenticity of a document, the notarial certificate will include information indicating that the notary conducted checks to validate the document’s authenticity.
Id requirements
As a notary, I must establish my client’s identity.
You will be required to provide the following documentation:
- Photographic ID (e.g. a passport, driving licence or ID Card)
- Proof of Address (e.g. a bank statement, utility bill, or household bill)
If you don’t have these documents, I will advise on how best to prove who you are.
For business clients, in addition to the above, I will need to establish the existence of your company. For UK companies I will complete my own checks via Companies House. For foreign companies you will need to provide any of the following: Certificate of incorporation, certificate of good standing or incumbency, or a company extract from the local company register).
In addition to these basic identity checks, further checks may need to be carried out depending on the type of notarisation required.
If you are signing on behalf of a company, I will need to see evidence of your authority to do so. Your authority may be established in a number of ways, most commonly through constitutional documents such as the Articles of Association and a Board resolution.
Commissioner for Oath
Notary Public in England and Wales is also Commissioners for Oaths. I am also able to offer the same services offered by a solicitor for taking affidavits and statutory declarations intended for use in England and Wales in England and Wales. I provide Identity checks for the property transfer for Land Registry on ID1 form. Additionally, I provide identity verification for property transfers for the Land Registry using the ID1 form.
British Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate
A notary is unable to certify copies of UK birth, death, or marriage certificates because these documents are protected by Crown Copyright laws. As a result, only the government is authorised to issue certified copies. However, these certificates can be legalised without notarisation. I can assist you with obtaining an Apostille, which allows you to use the certificate abroad.
You can order birth, death, or marriage certificates online directly from the General Registry Office by visiting the following link: https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
Services
Apostille & Legalisation
I offer both standard and express apostille services depending on how quickly you need your document back.
Mobile notary
I offer mobile Notary Service for those who are unable to travel to my office or require the convenience of mobile notary service.
