Frequently Asked Questions

A Notary Public is an independent legal professional authorised to authenticate documents for use in foreign countries. The notarial profession is one of the oldest branches of the legal profession, and notaries in England and Wales are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and regulated by the Master of the Faculties.

Unlike a solicitor's certification, a notarial act carries formal international recognition and is required for documents that must be accepted by foreign courts, government bodies, or private institutions.

A solicitor and a notary are both legal professionals, but they serve different functions. Solicitors advise on English law and act for clients in English legal proceedings. A notary's primary function is to authenticate documents for use in foreign jurisdictions - a role that solicitors are generally not authorised to perform.

Documents certified by a solicitor will typically not be accepted abroad in the way that notarised documents are. If a foreign authority has asked for "notarisation", this means the document must be seen and authenticated by a notary public, not simply certified by a solicitor.

This depends on the requirements of the receiving authority in the destination country. If the foreign authority, embassy, or institution has specified that a notarised document is required, then a solicitor's certification will not be sufficient. We recommend contacting the relevant authority to confirm their precise requirements before proceeding.

If you are in any doubt, we are happy to advise. Please contact us with the details of your matter.

An Apostille is a certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) which authenticates the signature of a notary for use in countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Once an Apostille is attached to a notarised document, it will be accepted in any Hague Convention country without further authentication.

There are over 120 countries party to the Convention, including all EU member states, the United States, Australia, and many others.

Not always. Whether an Apostille is required depends on the destination country and the requirements of the receiving authority. Some foreign institutions will accept a notarised document without an Apostille; others require it as a matter of course.

For countries that are not party to the Hague Convention - such as certain Middle Eastern, African, and Asian countries - a different process called "legalisation" is required, which involves submission to the relevant embassy or consulate. We will advise on the appropriate authentication for your specific country and purpose.

The FCDO offers two levels of service:

• Standard service: typically 3–5 working days from submission
• Premium service: same working day (at a higher fee)

Embassy legalisation timescales vary significantly between countries and can range from a few days to several weeks. We will advise on the expected timescale for your specific destination country.

You must bring a valid, original passport or national identity card to your appointment. This is a legal requirement - the notary must verify your identity before executing any notarial act, and cannot proceed without satisfactory identification.

A driving licence alone is not sufficient as a primary form of identification for notarial purposes. Please contact us in advance if you are unable to provide a passport or national identity card.

In most cases, yes. Notarial authentication requires sight of the original document. Where we are certifying a copy as a true copy of the original, we will need to see the original at the appointment in order to make the comparison.

Please contact us if you have concerns about bringing original documents - we can advise on the options available in your specific circumstances.

Many notarial acts - including those where a signature must be witnessed, or where an oath must be administered - require your personal attendance at the office. This is a legal requirement and cannot be waived.

In some limited circumstances, such as the notarisation of copy documents where no signature is required, it may be possible to manage the matter by correspondence. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Most appointments last between 20 and 45 minutes. More complex matters - involving multiple documents, several parties, or documents requiring interpretation - may take longer. We will give you an indication of the expected duration when you book your appointment.

Yes. We understand that notarial matters are sometimes time-sensitive, and we make every effort to accommodate urgent instructions. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. Please advise us of any deadline when you make your enquiry so that we can prioritise accordingly.

Notarial fees are set in accordance with the guidelines of the Faculty Office. The fee for any given matter depends on the type of notarial act, the complexity and number of documents, the time required, and the destination country.

We always provide a written estimate before commencing any work. There is no charge for initial enquiries.

Disbursements - such as the FCDO Apostille fee (currently £30 per document), embassy legalisation fees, and courier charges - are payable in addition to notarial fees. These are agreed in advance and clearly itemised on your invoice. There are no hidden charges.

We accept payment by bank transfer, debit card, and credit card. A VAT invoice is issued for all notarial work. Payment is required before documents are released.