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What does Notary Public offer?
A Notary Public can notarise documents for use all over the world. The documents must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public who is appointed by the Court or by Royal Authority.
The Notary Public has to be satisfied that the person signing the document has been correctly identified and that he or she understands the nature of the document and the legal implications of it. The Notary will witness the signatures and affix their own signature and Seal of Office.
Why do I need a Notary Public?
You may require a document to be Notarised in the following cases:
- Setting up a Power of Attorney for use in another country
- Buying or selling a property overseas
- Sending a certified copy of your passport abroad
- When marrying abroad you may need to provide evidence of your single status to that jurisdiction
- Getting duplicate documents such as a passport
- Certify exam certificates for use abroad
- Swearing an Oath or Affidavit
- Making a Statutory declaration
- Authenticating a translation of a document
- Getting permission for a child to travel with one parent
- Legalisation or Apostille of documents
- Registration of Trade Marks
- Notarisation of commercial documents
- Man other documents for use abroad
QUALIFYING AS A NOTARY
People often ask how you become a Notary. This is a good question. A degree in Law is a perfect starting point. If you refer to the Notaries (Qualification) Rules 2017, it provides that an applicant must be ‘of good character’. Also, requisites in the Act are that a Notary:
“is at least 21 years of age and has satisfied the requirements of these rules; and
Has taken the oath of allegiance and the oath required by Section 7 of the Public Notaries Act 1843; and
Is, except where such application is made under rule 4 (ecclesiastical notaries) or rule 8 either a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, or a barrister at law or a Chartered Legal Executive or holds a Degree”.
It is no surprise that most applicants are solicitors. Over 90% of notaries are practising solicitors. Legal professionals, or those with a recent qualifying law degree and Legal Practice Certificate (LPC), can apply for an Exemption from the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury from studying core legal subjects. Applicants progress to study the Diploma in Notarial Practice. This is a two-year distance learning course that is currently offered by several institutions such as UCL, where students’ study both Private International Law and Roman Law in year one, and Notary Practice in the second year.
The professional body; The Notaries Society, states that “all newly appointed notaries shall, for the first two/three years after their appointment, have their practice as a notary supervised by another notary”. This is a reassuring policy that ensures all notaries meet the highest standards