Terms of Engagement

1. The Practice

These terms of engagement govern the provision of notarial services by James Harrington, Notary Public ("the Notary"), practising as Harrington Notaries & Associates at 109 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0SR. The Notary is authorised and regulated by the Master of the Faculties.

2. Scope of Services

The Notary will provide notarial services as agreed between the parties at the outset of each matter. The scope of services, together with any specific terms applicable to a particular matter, will be confirmed in writing prior to commencement of work.

The Notary acts solely in the capacity of a notary public. This practice does not provide legal advice on English law. Where a matter requires the involvement of a solicitor or other legal adviser, the Notary will advise accordingly.

3. Your Instructions

You agree to provide full and accurate information to the Notary, including your true identity, the true nature of the documents presented, and the purpose for which notarisation is required. The Notary reserves the right to decline instructions or to terminate an engagement where he considers that to continue would be contrary to his professional obligations or where the information provided appears to be inaccurate or misleading.

4. Identification Requirements

The Notary is required by law and by professional rules to verify the identity of all clients before executing any notarial act. You must produce a valid, original passport or national identity card at every appointment. In some circumstances, the Notary may require additional documentary evidence of identity.

The Notary is also required to comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to make additional checks or to request additional documentation.

5. Fees and Disbursements

Notarial fees are calculated in accordance with the guidelines of the Faculty Office. A written estimate of fees will be provided before any work is undertaken. The final fee may vary from the estimate if the matter proves to be more complex than initially anticipated; any such variation will be discussed with you before additional work is incurred.

Disbursements - including but not limited to FCDO Apostille fees, embassy or consulate legalisation fees, and courier charges - are payable in addition to notarial fees and will be itemised separately on your invoice. All fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing standard rate.

Payment is due upon completion of the notarial act and before documents are released. We accept payment by bank transfer, debit card, and credit card.

6. Confidentiality

The Notary is bound by professional rules of confidentiality. Information disclosed to the Notary in the course of a matter will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your consent, save where disclosure is required by law, regulation, court order, or the Notary's professional obligations.

7. Document Handling

Original documents entrusted to the Notary will be handled with the utmost care and returned to you promptly upon completion of the matter. Where documents are to be submitted to the FCDO or an embassy on your behalf, the Notary will take reasonable steps to ensure their safe transmission, but cannot accept liability for loss or damage in transit once documents have been passed to a third party (including the FCDO or courier services).

Documents are returned by tracked delivery. The Notary accepts no responsibility for delays caused by postal or courier services.

8. Liability

The Notary carries professional indemnity insurance in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty Office. The Notary's liability to you arising from the provision of notarial services is limited to the extent permitted by applicable law and the terms of that insurance.

The Notary cannot accept liability for the actions or decisions of foreign authorities, embassies, consulates, or courts in relation to the documents authenticated. The requirements of foreign authorities are subject to change and are outside the Notary's control.

9. Complaints

We are committed to providing a high standard of service. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service you have received, you should in the first instance contact the Notary directly in writing at the address below.

If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may refer your complaint to the Faculty Office:

The Registrar
Faculty Office
1 The Sanctuary
Westminster
London SW1P 3JT
Tel: 020 7222 5381

You may also be entitled to refer a complaint about our fees to the Notarial Charges Assessor.

10. Governing Law

These terms of engagement and any dispute arising from them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

11. Changes to These Terms

These terms may be updated from time to time. The current version will always be available on our website. These terms were last updated in March 2026.