Notarial Services
WHEN DO I NEED A NOTARY?
If you have a document for use in a foreign country then the signing of the document will almost certainly have to be before a notary. Examples include: Powers of Attorney, certification of education qualifications, foreign contract documentation, applications to marry abroad, affidavits for foreign court proceedings.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
We understand that some documentation is urgent and will usually be able to offer an appointment at short notice. We can travel to you if you wish, subject to payment of a supplemental charge.
WARNING: many documents will also require what is called Legalisation. This means obtaining a certificate (called an Apostille) from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (the FCO) once the document has been notarised. The turn round for this is usually 3 to 4 days. This can be done more quickly but this means couriering the document to the Legalisation Office, which can be expensive, or using a London agent for the FCO Premium Service – even more expensive. Commonwealth countries and former British colonies and dependant territories tend not to require documents to be legalised; European countries do. The position in the US varies according to which state governs the document.
Sometime, e.g. for some countries in the middle east, you will have to have the document legalised by the country's Consulate or Chamber of Trade in London. This can take several days and can involve high fees.
ANOTHER WARNING: some documents are rather bad translations from the native language. They often need redrafting into good and legal English before being notarised. Sometimes we may need to confirm the wording and form of the document with any foreign lawyer who may be acting for you in the country concerned. This again will take some time to complete.
We have to be satisfied that you understand the document. If the document is in a foreign language it may need to be translated; if your English is not good an interpreter may be needed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Ring us to discuss what it is you want. Book an appointment as soon as possible. Send us in advance a copy of the document to be notarised by fax, email or hand delivery. We can then advise you as to how long it will take and the likely cost.
At the appointment we have to have the following:
Proof of your identity by photo ID and a recent utility bill
If you are acting on behalf of a company we will need to be satisfied that you have authority to act for the company and that the company authorises the transaction
Unless otherwise agreed my fees must be settled in full before documents are released. Disbursements must be paid in advance.
Usually we will deal with any legalisation requirements before returning the document to you. You are free to attend the Legalisation Office yourself if you wish (the office is in Milton Keynes). Note that some countries like the notarised and legalised documents to be sent to them directly by the notary.
THE COST
We have a standard charge of £70 for most documents. Some very straightforward documents for the US and certain other countries are charged at £45.
Redrafting documents and other work necessary to bring the documents to a state where they can be notarised is charged at our standard rate of £175 per hour + vat.
A notary is an independent legal professional. Notarial fees are paid to the Notary personally and do not attract vat. However, any redrafting or other work not directly related to the notarisation is done by the firm and the fees for this are subject to vat.
We will give you a fixed fee quote where possible. Where this is not possible we will give you a fee limit within which the transaction should be completed. We may ask you for payment on account of costs and disbursements.
The current FCO fee for Legalisation is £28 per document. We use an agent in Milton Keynes to deliver and return the documents and they charge £18 for up to three documents. Consular and Chamber of Commerce fees will be advised to you on an individual basis as they vary from country to country.
If the document is for a company we always have to do a search to verify the identity of the company and its directors. This costs £4.00 per document (no more than two documents are usually needed). With foreign companies we may have to use the services of a lawyer or company agent in the country concerned to verify the details of the company.
Courier fees and fees for interpreters and translators are quoted on an individual basis as are fees for out of hours work or travelling to you.
If you have a document for use in a foreign country then the signing of the document will almost certainly have to be before a notary. Examples include: Powers of Attorney, certification of education qualifications, foreign contract documentation, applications to marry abroad, affidavits for foreign court proceedings.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
We understand that some documentation is urgent and will usually be able to offer an appointment at short notice. We can travel to you if you wish, subject to payment of a supplemental charge.
WARNING: many documents will also require what is called Legalisation. This means obtaining a certificate (called an Apostille) from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (the FCO) once the document has been notarised. The turn round for this is usually 3 to 4 days. This can be done more quickly but this means couriering the document to the Legalisation Office, which can be expensive, or using a London agent for the FCO Premium Service – even more expensive. Commonwealth countries and former British colonies and dependant territories tend not to require documents to be legalised; European countries do. The position in the US varies according to which state governs the document.
Sometime, e.g. for some countries in the middle east, you will have to have the document legalised by the country's Consulate or Chamber of Trade in London. This can take several days and can involve high fees.
ANOTHER WARNING: some documents are rather bad translations from the native language. They often need redrafting into good and legal English before being notarised. Sometimes we may need to confirm the wording and form of the document with any foreign lawyer who may be acting for you in the country concerned. This again will take some time to complete.
We have to be satisfied that you understand the document. If the document is in a foreign language it may need to be translated; if your English is not good an interpreter may be needed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Ring us to discuss what it is you want. Book an appointment as soon as possible. Send us in advance a copy of the document to be notarised by fax, email or hand delivery. We can then advise you as to how long it will take and the likely cost.
At the appointment we have to have the following:
Proof of your identity by photo ID and a recent utility bill
If you are acting on behalf of a company we will need to be satisfied that you have authority to act for the company and that the company authorises the transaction
Unless otherwise agreed my fees must be settled in full before documents are released. Disbursements must be paid in advance.
Usually we will deal with any legalisation requirements before returning the document to you. You are free to attend the Legalisation Office yourself if you wish (the office is in Milton Keynes). Note that some countries like the notarised and legalised documents to be sent to them directly by the notary.
THE COST
We have a standard charge of £70 for most documents. Some very straightforward documents for the US and certain other countries are charged at £45.
Redrafting documents and other work necessary to bring the documents to a state where they can be notarised is charged at our standard rate of £175 per hour + vat.
A notary is an independent legal professional. Notarial fees are paid to the Notary personally and do not attract vat. However, any redrafting or other work not directly related to the notarisation is done by the firm and the fees for this are subject to vat.
We will give you a fixed fee quote where possible. Where this is not possible we will give you a fee limit within which the transaction should be completed. We may ask you for payment on account of costs and disbursements.
The current FCO fee for Legalisation is £28 per document. We use an agent in Milton Keynes to deliver and return the documents and they charge £18 for up to three documents. Consular and Chamber of Commerce fees will be advised to you on an individual basis as they vary from country to country.
If the document is for a company we always have to do a search to verify the identity of the company and its directors. This costs £4.00 per document (no more than two documents are usually needed). With foreign companies we may have to use the services of a lawyer or company agent in the country concerned to verify the details of the company.
Courier fees and fees for interpreters and translators are quoted on an individual basis as are fees for out of hours work or travelling to you.
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