A notary may be required to provide services in relation to a wide variety of documents including:

• Administering affidavits and oaths
• Certifying documents – e.g. birth, death and marriage certificates, identity documents and qualifications
• Witnessing powers of attorney for use abroad
• Witnessing documents in relation to the purchase or sale of property abroad
• Witnessing documents in relation to the administration of a deceased person’s estate abroad
• Consents for children to travel abroad without one or both of their parents

If required, translation of the documents can be arranged.

A notary may be required to authenticate a wide variety of commercial documents in order to carry out business abroad, including:

• Confirmation of the existence of the English company by certifying documents from Companies House etc.
• Confirmation of the identity and authority of company directors and other company officers
• Copies of company resolutions and minutes
• Powers of attorney – e.g. in relation to representing the English company abroad, creating a branch office outside the United Kingdom or conducting litigation in another country.

Once all the required documentation is available, most notarial work for businesses can be completed within about seven days at the maximum. However, sometimes it is necessary to liaise with your advisor abroad regarding any alterations to a document that might be required.

Thereafter legalisation of the document may be required. The cost of this depends on the country for which the document is needed and how quickly it is required. If more time is available for the legalisation process, this can reduce its cost.

If required, translation of the documents can be arranged.

After a document has been certified by a notary, the notary’s authority to act as such also often needs to be authenticated. This process is known as legalisation.

An apostille from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirms the validity of the notary’s signature and seal.

The standard fee for the issue of an apostille from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently £30. If dealt with by post, this takes three to four days. The premium service, whereby an apostille can be obtained on the same day on a “while you wait” basis costs £75 and is commonly obtained via an agent. In addition, some countries require further legalisation by their own consulate or embassy in England. The cost of this can vary greatly depending on the country involved and the type of document.

I can arrange legalisation for you and can advise you on the costs and timescales involved.