Notarial Services

Who is a Notary?

A Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the Court of Faculties of The Archbishop of Canterbury. The Faculty which is granted to each Notary Public on admission enables him or her to draw, attest or certify under his official seal, for use anywhere in the world, deeds and other documents including Wills, conveyances of real and personal property and powers of attorney. Authentication of documents under the seal of a Notary Public will render them acceptable to the judicial or other public authorities in the country where they are to be used.

Legislation

In addition to sealing by the Notary Public, many documents need to be legalised. This is the procedure by which the state authority of one country satisfies the state authority of another country that the signature of a public officer such as a Notary Public is genuinely his or hers. In many cases, the addition to the document in question of an Apostille sealed by the Foreign   Commonwealth Office is sufficient.

Examples of Notarial acts

• Attesting signatures to powers of attorney for the purchase and sale of property abroad
• Preparing statutory declarations for those wishing to emigrate from this country
• Certifying copy documents such as passports to be true copies of the originals
• Attesting sponsorship declarations for persons wishing to visit this country
• Attesting the signatures of directors and other company officers to company documents for use abroad
• Attesting certificates of existence for people receiving overseas pensions
• Preparing declarations of freedom to marry for persons wishing to be married abroad  

Gullands partner, Alex Astley, was admitted as a Notary Public in January 2007 and would be pleased to undertake any notarial services, including legalisation, which you may require. Please telephone him on 01622 689700 or e-mail him at a.astley@gullands.com for further information.