Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Notary Public and what do they do?

A Notary Public in England is a qualified legal professional authorised to authenticate and certify documents for international use. Their primary role is to verify the authenticity of signatures, documents, and facts, ensuring these meet the legal requirements of foreign jurisdictions.

Common tasks include:

• Certifying passport copies
• Witnessing signatures on powers of attorney
• Verifying academic or business credentials

Notaries are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and must complete specialised legal training. Unlike solicitors, notaries are impartial officers of the law and are not advocates for any party.

They also help clients obtain an apostille or additional consular legalisation where necessary and maintain official records of the documents they notarise.

2. What types of documents can a Notary Public deal with?

A Notary Public in England can assist with a wide range of documents, particularly for international use. Common examples include:

• Powers of Attorney – For managing property or finances abroad
• Affidavits & Statutory Declarations – Sworn statements for foreign legal systems
• Certified Copies of ID Documents – For visas, bank accounts, or legal use
• Academic Qualifications – For applications to foreign universities or employers
• Property Documents – For buying or selling overseas property
• Business Documents – Articles of Association, board resolutions, etc.
• Consent Letters for Minors – Confirming parental permission for travel
• Marriage or Birth Certificates – Certified for immigration or legal purposes abroad

3. What is the difference between a Notary Public and a Solicitor?

Feature	Notary Public	Solicitor
Function	Authenticates documents for use abroad	Provides legal advice and representation in the UK
Regulator	Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury	Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
Training	Requires additional notarial and civil law training	UK-based legal qualification
Impartiality	Must remain neutral and independent	Acts in client’s best interests
Work Focus	International certification and legalisation	Domestic legal advice and litigation
Document Use	For use abroad	Typically for UK use

In essence, a solicitor acts as a legal advisor within the UK, while a Notary Public enables UK documents to be recognised internationally.

4. What is an Apostille and when will I need one?

An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that verifies a document’s authenticity for use in another country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (1961).You will likely need an apostille when presenting notarised documents abroad, such as:

• Powers of attorney
• Academic qualifications
• Birth or marriage certificates

Steps:

1. The notary public certifies the document
2. The document is submitted to the FCDO
3. The FCDO attaches an apostille certificate
4. The document is now accepted in any Hague Convention country

5. What is Legalisation and when will I require it?

Legalisation confirms that a UK-issued document is valid for use in a foreign country. This is typically needed for legal, immigration, academic, or commercial purposes.

The process involves:

1. Notarisation – A notary public certifies the document
2. Apostille – Added by the FCDO for Hague Convention countries
3. Consular Legalisation – Required for non-Hague countries (e.g., UAE, China, Qatar) via their UK embassy or consulate
4. Translation – Some countries may require notarised and legalised translations

Examples of documents requiring legalisation:

• Birth, marriage, or death certificates
• University diplomas
• Powers of attorney
• Company registration documents
• Criminal record checks (DBS)

6. When should I consult a Notary Public?

You should consult a notary public when:

• You need to use UK documents in a foreign country
• You are signing a legal document for use overseas
• A foreign authority requests notarised or legalised paperwork
• You are involved in an international property or business transaction
• You need an apostille or embassy legalisation