What type of documents will a notary public authenticate?

For the full range of documentation that can be authenticated by a notary public, visit our information page here. The key areas of documentation covered include: property, birth, death, marriage, and adoption, corporate records, medical records and court related documentation. A notary public is a qualified lawyer who can operate in all legal proceedings and paperwork. They cannot, however, attend court proceedings as a legal representative.

I need a notary public but I’m too busy

You may need a notary public for some planned documentation – or you might find you need one more urgently where you cannot get to their office either due to time constraints or travel practicalities.

We realise that your lifestyle is likely to be incredibly busy and demanding. In today’s world, you need to be in three places at once, all the time. You need to work around family, employment demands, and somehow fit in a social life too. Not only that, but you may need documentation authorised very quickly due to time dependent deadlines.

That’s why we offer a mobile notary public service. You don’t have to find the time to make it to our office – we’ll come to you. That way you can ensure your documentation is certified the right way, in good time.

How do I book mobile notary public services?

We offer the full range of notary services from within our office and as part of our mobile notary service. If you require assistance with the certification and authentication of documents, or need help acquiring Power of Attorney permissions, this can be done either at the office or at a time and a place suited to you. Should you require a mobile notary public to attend your home or office, please contact us to discuss how we can help you.

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A notary public is a fully qualified lawyer and can conduct all legal proceedings, as well as document certification, with the exception of acting in court proceedings.

What services can a notary public provide?

While notary publics are often required to authenticate documents for use abroad, they are also frequently required for legal assistance within the United Kingdom. For example, you may need some property documentation to be legally certified during a property sale, or a sworn statement (known as an affidavit) to be authenticated in order to protect you from potential future legal cases.

A notary public can also be employed to authenticate and certify crucial documents required during certain life stages, such as adoption certificates and wills, as well as assisting with Power of Attorney documentation.

How does a notary public differ from a solicitor?

There are only a few differences between a solicitor and a notary public, the main one being that they cannot participate in court proceedings. They can, however, certify documents required within a legal process which may be related to court proceedings.

Your notary public will have the same background of education as a solicitor and will be able to assist in legal proceedings as such.

What protection do I have against misconduct of a notary public?

All notary publics must keep their clients’ money separate from their own. In addition to this, they must retain valid insurance and of course comply with strict regulations as required for all legal personnel. A notary public must renew their certificate on an annual basis – so you can remain assured that they adhere to the highest standards of best practice at all times.  You can find out more about a notary public here.

How do I find a notary public in London?

South London Notaries are able to assist with your documentation and legal needs. We offer a range of services provided by our experienced and reliable notaries. Get in touch today to find out how we can help.

The post How a notary public in London can help you first appeared on South London Notaries.

Known informally as the “Spy vs. Spy” case, David Voelkert, then 38, was arrested following an alleged friendship with a 17-year-old Facebook friend who went by the name of “Jessica Studebaker.” While it’s not illegal to be Facebook friends with a minor, the conversation was actually a plot by Mr Voelkert’s ex-wife to extract information from Mr Voelkert, with the intention of using transcripts from the conversation against him. What Mr Voelkert’s ex-wife did not know, however, was that her ex-husband was in on the ruse from the get-go.

It was assumed by Mr Voelkert that the ‘Studebaker’ account was a fake account created by his ex-wife Angela, then 29. More specifically, the reason for Angela’s desire to accumulate dirt on Mr Voelkert was to collect evidence for an ongoing child custody dispute. And she might have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for the legal ingenuity of her ex-husband.

“I knew she was doing it, so I played along” isn’t a very good defence if used with notarisation; however, Mr Voelkert made it very clear in his affidavit that he had cottoned on to his ex-wife’s dastardly scheme in advance. The supposed ‘incriminating’ Facebook messages which were sent by Mr Voelkert were sent six days after his sworn affidavit had been notarised. Demonstrating foresight, Mr Voelkert held one copy of the affidavit, with a relative holding a second copy just in case. The FBI, who were put in charge of the case, interviewed the bank employee that had notarised the affidavit, and they were able to confirm from this that the affidavit was, in fact, genuine, and Mr Voelkert’s case was soon thrown out.

This case, while taking place in America, is a textbook example of how using a sworn statement can make a powerful case that doesn’t just rely on he said/she said. Although a bank clerk notarised the sworn statement in this instance, a notary public in the UK, like South London Notaries performs such vital functions every day.

Contact South London Notaries

South London Notaries are experienced in all aspects of notary public business. Please contact us for more information, or head here to find out more about the services we offer.

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Why is the role so important?

In 2016, the market value of all real estate companies in the UK combined reached approximately 80.42 billion British pounds (which is about 1,256 British pounds per person). That alone means that whenever a mortgagor applies for a bank loan, the bank will typically depend on the medical documents to be notarised by a licensed notary public. Thus, the role is not just important to the notary public; in fact, the greatest importance could arguably be the rigidity of the UK’s real estate market. There are other factors, too – especially the insurance industry. As you can imagine, the private health insurance industry is not keen to insure people who have more health problems than can be counted on two hands. Conversely, however, people looking to purchase private health cover can use a notary public to notarise medical documents in order to prove their health is reasonably stable, or, at the very least, ensure that they pay a reasonable insurance premium.

In summary …

When people think of a notary public, their minds often jump to affidavits, financial statements, and passports, but the notarisation of medical documents is of (perhaps surprisingly) incredible importance to the UK and its economic stability. Simply put, a notary public is a fundamental cog in the economy, law and order, and (by extension) in society. Having a trusted legal executor like South London Notaries to ensure the veracity of medical documents is essential for maintaining justice for all.

Contact South London Notaries

South London Notaries are experienced in all aspects of notary public business. Please contact us for more information, or head here to find out more about the services we offer.

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Appointing a notary public

A notary public in the UK is now and has always been a qualified lawyer, tasked with authenticating documents and transactions for recognition by other jurisdictions.

Prior to 1533, the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed notary publics on the papal authority. After the UK distanced itself from Rome, the Archbishop of Canterbury continued to make appointments, but on the Crown’s authority. Since 1801, regulation and appointments of notaries have been dictated by stature enacted in Parliament, but appointments continue to be made by the Archbishop.

History of notarising

Up until the eighteenth century, a notary public would notarise documents using their own highly personalised sign, and often these were very elaborate. At this time, governments and corporations were authenticating their transactions with a seal. Many Governments still use seals for particularly important transactions; however, companies rarely do in the modern age. Notaries gradually adopted seals to authenticate documents – after all, this was the usual way the validity of deeds was established in the courts.

By the nineteenth century, it was an established practice that any act carried out by a notary public should be attested by both the signature of the notary public, and their personal seal. Current practice is for notaries to have a highly distinctive seal, commonly illustrated with a professional or historical sign. Furthermore, notarial acts have been modernised. They are now created in standard forms so as to be easily recognised and understood in foreign jurisdictions. Formally notarised documents adhering to the standards of common notary public practice carry significant weight with courts and administrators in many foreign countries. As a result, the role of the notary public remains an important one and one which has evolved to best serve both citizens and Governments and courts.

Contact South London Notaries

South London Notaries are experienced in all aspects of notary public business. Please contact us for more information, or head here to find out more about the services we offer.

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Noting a dishonoured Bill of Exchange

Although Bills of Exchange are declining in importance, you can use a notary to note and protest a dishonoured (unpaid) bill. Under the Bills of Exchange Act, if a payee refuses to accept a Bill of Exchange on first presentation, or refuses to pay when the bill is due, you can protest for non-acceptance or non-payment. Your notary public will first present the bill for acceptance or payment and if the drawee still refuses, it will be noted. Your notary public will prepare a minute noting the date and the reasons for the dishonour, and attach it to the bill.

Protesting a dishonoured Bill of Exchange

If you choose to have the dishonour certified by your notary public, this certificate is referred to as a protest. If the drawee becomes insolvent before the bill matures, you may choose to have the fact noted and certified, when the certificate becomes a ‘protest for better security’. The payee must wait until the bill matures to pursue payment through the courts.

Neither noting or protesting is compulsory for UK business. However, under section 104 of the Act, any foreign bill that is dishonoured must be protested if protest is required by the law of the land where the bill was drawn. Noting and protesting is considered to be prima facie evidence by the courts. It’s good practice to note a dishonour, as it can later be protested if you intend to pursue legal action.

Contact South London Notaries

South London Notaries are experienced in all aspects of notary public business. If you need help with noting and protesting a dishonoured Bill of Exchange, please contact us for more information, or head here to find out more about the services we offer.

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Much like the sale of, say, international property to prospective British buyers, international adoption in the United States requires the United States Department of State to intercede. Different countries typically have their own department to handle such processes. Just like real estate notarisation, international adoption documents need to be “legalised” or “authenticated” before they’re legally accepted and ratified in other countries.

Unfortunately, however, things can get a little bit more complicated, which is why it is so useful to have a notary public to make the process run smoothly. One complication from foreign adoption includes a case where the child (or children) you want to adopt isn’t a member of a country that is a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention. It may be the case that you need to employ a “chain authentication method” that requires you to follow through various steps of a document until your international adoption is recognised everywhere. This might seem like a hassle, but this process does help to ensure that all children that are adopted are taken into the care of responsible adults. This process also helps to severely limit child trafficking, which is a horrendous black-market problem for many of the world’s governments, especially for so-called guardians in third-world countries, where the problem is rife.

A notary public will help accomplish their client’s goal of international adoption in a logical and stress-reduced manner. Adoption is, of course, a rewarding process for prospective parents; moreover, it also can be an extremely rewarding feeling for a notary public, as it is often their job to connect kids with parents who are looking forward to enriching their own lives, as well as their new child’s.

Contact South London Notaries

If you require a notary public to advise on your adoption related documentation, our team at South London Notaries can help. We offer a professional and efficient service and can assist with notarising a variety of documents.  Contact South London Notaries now to discuss your requirements.

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Having a document notarised is a straightforward but important process and can ensure your final wishes or those of your loved once are realised after you pass away. Failure to ensure your will is recognised may cause problems for your loved ones and could even result in your estate not being administered as you would have wanted. For these reasons, it is highly recommended that you have your will notarised by a skilled and professional notary public.

How can a notary public help me with my will?

A notary public has many duties and functions, and in particular, has an important role to play when it comes to wills and probate. You may require their services where you are dealing with issues in a foreign jurisdiction. In order to give effect to a will in a foreign jurisdiction, you will need to submit the documentation to the authorities. Under these circumstances, it is essential to ensure that these documents are recognised as being official and legally binding. This is where a notary public comes in. You can have the documents notarised by a notary public to validate them – this should ensure that the documents are accepted by the foreign authorities.

Examples of the documents relating to wills that you may require notarised for recognition abroad include wills, birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption certificates, powers of attorney and witnessing signatures of deeds and documents.

Contact South London Notaries

If you require a notary public to notarise your will for recognition abroad,  our team at South London Notaries can help. We offer a professional and efficient service in relation to wills and can assist with notarising a variety of documents.  Contact South London Notaries now to discuss your requirements.

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Services provided by a notary public to assist with foreign affairs.

Notaries can assist you in your foreign dealings and affairs by preparing the required documents to administer the estate of a deceased who owned property abroad. A notary public can assist you if a loved one has passed away and has property outside of the UK, or if your loved one did not live in the UK, but left property behind there. We can prepare the required documents to ensure the distribution of their estate is as stress-free as possible, at what can be a difficult time, by providing an efficient and comprehensive service.

Notaries can also verify translations from foreign languages to English, and from English to a foreign language. This is an important service provided by notaries public as verifications of translations will often be required to carry out a number of actions relating to your foreign dealings. This may include property and banking transactions, employment, marriage and adoption, among others.

Similarly, authenticating personal documents for purposes of marriage, divorce, adoption, immigration, emigrating, or employment is another important aspect of the work of a notary public. If you wish to carry out any of these actions, a notary public will have an essential role in the process.

Contact South London Notaries

If you require a notary public in London to assist you with foreign dealings and affairs, South London Notaries can help. We offer comprehensive notarisation and legalisation services for both personal clients and businesses. For more information about how we can help you, please visit our services page.

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Documents requiring authentication

A notary is principally concerned with preparing and authenticating the following documents for use abroad: power of attorney, wills, personal documents for immigration and emigration, company or business documents, and sales of land or property. A notary may provide authentication for almost any type of document or transaction. In order to authenticate a document, the notary must satisfy themselves regarding certain criteria.

The criteria a notary public must consider when providing authentication

First, the notary public in London, or elsewhere, must be satisfied that the individual has appeared before them.

The implementation of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 obliges notaries to keep evidence of their client’s place of residence and identity on file. Suitable documents for identity verification include passport and driving licence. Proof of residence includes a bank statement and utility bill. When the notary is acting on behalf of a corporate client, evidence of company incorporation is required.

The notary must determine that the client has the mental capacity to undertake the transaction. They must also ascertain that the appearer is authorised to enter into that transaction, particularly if representing a corporate entity.

The notary will then establish that the appearer has understood the literal meaning of the document and consulted a foreign lawyer, if appropriate. The notary will then determine the appearer’s willingness to be bound.

Under the rules of the Notary Society, a notary is not allowed to advise on the implications of documents designed to operate in a foreign country.

E-notarisation

This is expected to significantly impact on the speed with which a notarised and fully authenticated document can be sent abroad. Such documents will still be subject to the authentication process outlined above.

South London Notaries

If you require notarial services in South London, a full list of our services can be found here.

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