What is a Notary?

What is a Notary?

Notaries form the third, and oldest, branch of the legal profession in England and Wales.

A Notary is a qualified lawyer, who has undertaken further specialist professional training.  Currently, this involves a two-year postgraduate course at University College London, with examinations in Roman Law (on which foreign civil law systems are based), Private International Law (also called Conflict of Laws), and Notarial Practice.

Notaries are appointed and regulated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, through the Faculty Office in London.

The status of a Notary is recognised throughout the world.