Only a qualified notary can notarise documents in the UK. Here we will examine how to have documents notarised.
Notaries form the oldest part of the legal profession in England and Wales. There are around 770 of them practising in England and Wales.
How to find a notary
You can visit the Notaries Society and use their search page to find a notary in England and Wales. Alternatively, you can carry out your own search online. For example, if you are a resident of the capital and are looking for notary services London, you will find firms such as bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/notary-services-for-individuals/london/.
How is a document notarised?
The actual process, once you have found your notary, is pretty straightforward.
First of all, you will be asked for reliable identification to make sure your identity is validated. You will then be asked to sign the document and have it witnessed by the notary. Once these signatures are confirmed, the notary will apply their official seal, ensuring the validity of the document.
Although this process is normally done in person with the client and notary present, recent changes are transforming the landscape. Electronic signatures and digital seals can be used and are an increasingly common practice. This is often the case with foreign documents which need notarising.
Remote notarisation using video calls is also in its early days, and a hybrid version of these methods is also available.
Which documents are normally notarised?
Documents which need to be notarised include powers of attorney, contracts, affidavits, mortgage documents and passport applications.
