Notary Public Services

Whether you are planning to get married abroad, preparing papers for a foreign adoption or have lost your passport, the notaries at Ramsdens Solicitors are here to help you. They offer a wide range of notary public services to both businesses and individuals.

Our award-winning legal team are based in offices across Yorkshire and have been offering services for more than a century. There are two notaries based in our offices, providing their notarial services on a self-employed basis. No matter your requirements, we are here to offer useful guidance to you when you need it.

Contact our experienced team today to discuss our Notary Public services, by calling 01484 821 500 or fill out an online enquiry form, and we will be in touch at a time that is convenient for you.

How notary solicitors at Ramsdens can help

Typical work carried out by the notary solicitors at Ramsdens includes:

• Authenticating documentation needed for emigration and applications for marriage abroad
• Certifying the identity of a company or its officers for private or public sector bodies or regulators abroad
• Notarising the due execution of documentation in relation to the purchase of land or other assets abroad
• Notarising copies of company documents
• Notarising powers of attorney relating to the conduct of business, property transactions or court proceedings abroad

The notaries at Ramsdens are experienced and professional legal experts. No matter your circumstances, if you require a notary public to certify documents, the notaries at Ramsdens will do their utmost to help you.

FAQs

What is a notary public?

A notary public is a specially-qualified lawyer, regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who serves as an impartial witness in performing a variety of acts related to the signing of important documents.

There are approximately 800 notaries across England and Wales, and notaries public form one of the oldest branches of the legal profession.

What does a notary public do?

A notary can authenticate or witness the signing of most documents. This work involves the authentication and valid execution of documents for use abroad. Such services are indispensable to the conduct of international transactions, and quite often are the only thing preventing an individual or representatives from a country from having to travel abroad to conduct their business.

The notary’s signature and seal will verify to the authorities in that country that any relevant checks have been carried out, and that the document has been properly signed.

What is the difference between a notary and a solicitor?

Notaries form a highly specialised portion of the legal profession, whose area of specialism is the preparation and certification of documents so they can be used effectively abroad. Solicitors form the largest portion of the legal profession, offering advice and representation to their clients on a wide variety of legal issues, usually within their country of residence.

A notable difference between a notary and a solicitor is that, while a solicitor’s primary duty is to their client, the notary’s responsibility lies with the transaction itself and the authenticity of the documents.

Notaries are recognised internationally, and they have to maintain absolute integrity and impartiality to maintain the standing of the profession.

What is legalisation? What is an apostille?

Many countries require notarised documents to be legalised. Legalisation is a double check to make sure a notary’s signature is genuine and recognised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In some cases, documents may be checked by foreign embassies to make sure that the notary’s signature matches the one on their records. However, this will depend on the country involved. Once the authenticity of the signature has been confirmed, a certificate called an “Apostille” is attached.

How are documents in a foreign language treated?

If a document involved in this type of transaction is written in a foreign language, it is usually necessary for it to be translated by an official legal translator, who will then sign a statutory declaration.

In exceptional circumstances, the notary may be satisfied to fix their seal of office and signature on documents in a foreign language, provided that they are happy that the individual signing the document is familiar with the language it is written in and understands its content and effect.

What are the Insurance limits for notaries?

The limit of insurance indemnity for notaries is £1,000,000

What are the fees and charges for notary public services?

Further information can be found here.

Why choose us?

Ramsdens Solicitors features in the Legal 500 as a recommended firm, meaning we are widely recognised for our high standards of client service. We are committed to treating all of our clients with the utmost care, and will work tirelessly to provide you with the support you need.

In our latest 'client satisfaction feedback' survey, 97% of respondents said they were happy with our overall performance, further demonstrating our reputation as a client-centric firm.

Find out more about our awards and accreditations here.