- Each notarial matter is different, and the requirements and timescales will vary according to whether the client is a private individual or a company, and according to the processing times of third parties such as the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, legalisation agents, translating agencies and couriers, etc.
2.Some of the typical key stages are likely to include:
2.1. Receiving and reviewing the documents to be notarised together with any instructions you may have received
2.2. Liaising with your legal advisors or other bodies to obtain the necessary documentation to deal with the document (e.g. information from Companies House or foreign registries, powers of attorney etc)
2.3. Checking the identity, capacity and authority of the person who is to sign the document.
2.4. If a document is to be certified, checking with the issuing authorities that the document/award is genuine. In the case of academic awards, this would entail checking with the appropriate academic institutions.
2.5. Meeting with the signatory to verify their identity and to ascertain that they understand what they are signing and that they are doing so of their own free will and ensuring that the document is executed correctly.
2.6. Drafting and affixing or endorsing a notarial certificate to the document
2.7. Arranging for the legalisation of the document as appropriate
2.8. Arranging for the storage of copies of all notarised documents in accordance with the requirements of the Notarial Practice Rules 2019
- Unless I am away on holiday, I can usually arrange an appointment for you to see me within three working days.
- If I am required to certify or attest your signature or certify a copy document, it can usually be done at the first appointment, when payment of my fee will be expected.
- If legalisation of a degree certificate is required, my practice is usually to obtain verification of the degree, either from the awarding University or from HEDD.ac.uk. The time this takes depends on the response time of the University or HEDD.
- If legalisation is required, an apostille can usually be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office within two to three weeks.
- If consular legalisation is required (usually after an apostille) it will take a further period of time after the apostille is obtained, which will depend on how quickly the relevant consulate takes to deal with the document. I will advise you of the likely timescale in each case.
- Redress: I am insured under a professional indemnity policy for at least £1,000,000.00.