Wallace & Co. Solicitors and Notaries.   

What do Notaries do?
Documents which are sent to England to be signed here almost always need to be witnessed by a Notary Public (also called a Public Notary). This is also true for Commonwealth countries or countries under British protection. Confusion arises when documents coming from English-speaking countries appear to need witnessing by a 'solicitor' or a 'commissioner for oaths'. This means a local solicitor or commissioner, but if the document is signed here it must be notarised. Notaries also certify copies of passports, birth certificates and other official documents. Note: not all documents can be notarially certified.

When do I need to see a notary? You may need to have documents witnessed or certified by a Notary if:

You need to sign any document to be sent abroad, such as a deed, power of attorney, affidavit, declaration, consent, transfer, conveyance, contract, agreement, or any other paper.

You need to confirm your single status to enable you to marry abroad.

You need to confirm that you don't have a criminal record.

You need copies of your UK educational certificates notarially certified.

You need copies of your Passport, driving licence or other ID certified. N.B.You must be present personally for this. You can't send someone with your ID for copies to be notarised.

You are applying for UK naturalisation and you don't want to sent your original passport. The Home Office can keep your passport for many months and you will not be ble to use it for travel in the meantime. Keep your original passport and send them a notarised copy instead. The Home Office will accept this instead of the original.

You need to get a document legalised or get an 'Apostille' under the Hague Convention.

You are buying or selling a property in Spain, France, Italy or elsewhere abroad.

You are dealing with someone's estate in Jamaica, West Indies or elsewhere.

You are buying or selling property or land in Jamaica, West Indies or elsewhere.

You need to give consent for a child or children to travel abroad.

You need to give someone authority for a passport to be issued to your child abroad.

You need to assign internet domain names, patents or similar.

 

What do I have to bring if I want the Notary to witness my signature?
1. Your passport - to prove your identity. If your passport bears your maiden name, bring your marriage certificate as well. If you have no passport, other acceptable means of identity include a full driving licence, or some other official document bearing a full name and signature. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, cheque books, National Insurance Cards, pension books, recent household bills or other documents bearing no signature are not acceptable (although they may supplement some other identification bearing full name and signature).

2.  Proof of address. This can be a recent household bill or bank statement showing your name and address. The bill should be not less than 3 months old when we see it. A driving licence cannot be used to prove identity and address

2. The documents. They should have your name as it appears on your passport. Otherwise, any discrepancy should be explained. Documents may have to be bound up for security and to prevent fraud. NB. Documents must be complete before the Notary can witness them. Apart from the date, there must be no blanks that could be filled in later. If any sections on a form do not apply, write "none" or "nil" rather than leave them blank. If your document is in a foreign language you must bring an English translation with you.

3. Yourself. Notarisation means that the Notary watches you sign. Do not sign until you are in front of the Notary.

4. A translator/interpreter if the person signing does not read or speak English well enough to speak to the Notary and satisfy him that they understand the nature and effect of the documents. Interpreters should be independent, not family members.

You will need to fill in an application form with your personal details before you see the Notary.

What is legalisation? What is an Apostille? What is the Hague Convention?
For many countries your document will be accepted when it has been witnessed by the Notary. However, some countries want the government to confirm that the notary is really a notary. This is done by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who put a certificate on the document confirming the Notary's credentials. This process is called "legalisation". The Foreign Office certificate, for some countries, is known as an 'Apostille' and it is attached under the terms of the Hague Convention. Sometimes, even Foreign Office legalisation is not enough. Some countries require a stamp from their own embassy or consulate before the document is sent abroad. We will advise you what legalisation your document needs, (if any).

Other important points.
1. Do not sign documents until you are with the Notary.

2. PLEASE READ THE DOCUMENTS BEFORE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT. If the documents you are signing refer to other documents being attached, these must be attached. For example, if it says '.. a copy of the death certificate is attached, marked "A". ', there must actually be a copy death certificate for each document. If documents refer to attachments which are not there, please contact the person who sent you the papers and ask them to send the attachments.

3. Bring with you any letter from your lawyers which explains what they want you to do with the documents or how they should be signed and witnessed.

4. Please ensure that the documents are prepared using your full name as it appears in your passport or other ID.

5. Make an appointment. You can usually be seen at short notice, but an appointment helps us to see you quickly.

6. Fill in the blanks in documents before you see the Notary. Documents cannot be witnessed if there are blanks in them or where schedules are not completed (except for the date or the place where you will sign). Neither can we witness just the back page of a longer document. You must bring all of the document.

7. Check with your lawyers how many originals of each document they want you to sign.

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Wallace & Co., Solicitors and Notaries. 11a Station Parade, Balham High Road, London, SW12 9AZ (entrance in Ravenstone Street). England  UK
Tel: 020 8675 6755. Fax: 020 8675 2001.   email:    Is available