Your Questions, Answered
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A Notary is a qualified lawyer - a member of the oldest branch of the legal profession in the United Kingdom. Notaries are appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury and are subject to regulation by the Master of the Faculties and authorised to practice throughout England and Wales.
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Most people are asked to see a notary because they need a document that will be used overseas.
Notarisation is not just a formality or a simple stamp.
The international duty of a Notary involves a high standard of care. Their duty is not only to you as the client, but also to anyone who may rely on the document, including foreign authorities and officials.
Those parties 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.
As a Notary, I am appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury and am subject to regulation by the Master of the Faculties.
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We can notarise a wide range of documents for both individuals and businesses.
We can also arrange for your document to be Apostilled by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the only authority which issues apostilles in the UK, as well as further consular legalisation, should you require that.
We also offer a convenient mobile Notary service. The Notary can attend appointments at a location such as your office or another suitable meeting venue.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information.
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Some common documents that can be notarised for Individuals:
Powers of Attorney
Statutory Declarations and Affidavits
Change of name deeds
Authenticating and certifying that documents are true copies, such as passports or proof of address.
Educational documents
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) document
Consents to travel with children
Certificates of Birth, Marriage and Death
Divorce documents
ID1 forms
VIF forms
There are many more documents that we can notarise.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information about your document.
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Some common documents that can be notarised for businesses:
Powers of Attorney
Companies House documents
Commercial Registry Extracts
Company constitutional documents
Deeds
Documents relating to cross-border transactions
Board resolutions and minutes
There are many more documents that we can notarise.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information about your document.
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All clients 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) showing your current address, which should not be more than 3 months old or a council tax bill.
If your documents refer to any other means of identification, such as a different Identity Card or a tax number, please also bring that with you.
I may also need to see further evidence of identity, such as Birth or Marriage certificates, etc and will advise you of this if necessary.
Any questions about ID requirements, please email info@londonnotary.net
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The Apostille is issued by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and confirms the signature and seal of the Notary or public official who signed the document, making it ready to be used abroad.
The Apostille replaces the need for Embassy or Consular legalisation in countries that have signed up to the Hague Apostille Convention.
We are happy to arrange for your document to be apostilled.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information.
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For documents going to countries that are not signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention, you might need attestation by the relevant Consulate or Embassy in addition to the Apostille.
A confirmation from a Chamber of Commerce might also be necessary for some commercial documents.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information.
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Contact us
Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or send us an email.
Describe what it is that you need done, including any instructions you might have received, and attach a scan or picture of your document to the email.
We’ll walk you through the next steps, give you a quote and answer any questions you might have.
Book your appointment
We can offer appointments in Chelsea, London, SW3, or if you prefer, the Notary can come to your office, home or other suitable location with our mobile service.
Saturday appointments are available by arrangement.
Get your document
At the appointment, the Notary will check your IDs and notarise the document. This usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
The document is now ready to take with you unless you require further Apostille and consular legalisation, in which case we will update you when the document is ready.
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Your document will be notarised at your appointment and should typically take around 20 minutes.
Documents that need an Apostille by the FCDO will take between 2 and 5 working days.
The time frame for consular legalisation varies from country to country.
Email us at info@londonnotary.net for more information about your document.
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The Notary can attend appointments at a location convenient to you, such as your office or another suitable meeting venue.
There is an additional charge, but it will be set out clearly in your quote.
Please email us with the address for a precise quote.
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Not always- some matters can be resolved without meeting face-to-face please contact us to see if this applies to your document.
Most matters does however require an in person meeting.
We can offer appointments at short notice and Saturday appointments can also be arranged.