Notary Public St Albans

Welcome to Notary Public St Albans

I am a Notary Public based in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. I offer notary services to clients in St Albans, and many other towns and locations in Hertfordshire, including Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Watford, Luton, Stevenage, Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Wellingborough & Rushden.

My services are available both at my office (based in central St Albans with free car parking, and convenient for trains and buses) and at a location convenient to you, by prior arrangement. I also offer appointments outside normal office hours where necessary.

Please visit the contact page to enquire about Notarisation or Legalisation.

Click on a link below for more information.

What is a Notary Public?
What does a Notary Public actually do?
What services does Notary Public St Albans offer?
Independence and Rules
Public Records kept by a Notary
Conflicts of Interest
Foreign Languages
Legalisation
Data Protection Privacy Notice
Terms of Business (printable)
Client Registration Form (printable)

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary Public is a lawyer who holds an internationally recognised public office. Their job is to certify documents to be accepted as evidence for use anywhere in the world. A document attested by a Notary will be acceptable as genuine to the judicial or public authorities for use in any country, by virtue of the Notary's signature and official seal.

Notaries are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and are subject to regulation by the Court of Faculties.

What does a Notary Public actually do?

A Notary Public will always check the identity of the signatory as well as their capacity and intention. This will involve the checking of certain documents such as a passport or driving license and separate proof of address. The Notary will witness the signature of the person involved and ensure that the document is signed in accordance with English Law and also in accordance with the legal requirements of the country for which the document is required.

A notary will take care to verify the contents of the document and check any facts and information necessary in order to be able to act in a reliable manner. Anyone receiving a notary's document will assume that they have checked all the facts in it and taken the responsibility for them unless they make it clear that this is not the case.

What services does Notary Public St Albans offer?

Notaries generally act as legally trained impartial witnesses to certify documents for use outside the UK.

Notary Public St Albans offers:

Witnessing the execution of documents and verifying the authenticity of signatures
Notarising documents for use in buying or selling property abroad
Certifying passports and Powers of Attorney
Certifying marriage and birth certificatesM
Certifying examination certificates
Verifying translations from foreign documents to English and vice versa
Legalisation (that is validation) of the notaries signature and seal by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and/or by the embassy of the relevant country
The provision of Notarial copies
Notarising medical reports and police reports for use in connection with adoption
Authenticating the contents of documents
Notarising foreign Wills
Confirming identification records when applying for lost or stolen passports
Notarising Bills of exchange and other contracts

Notary Hemel Hempstead, Notary Public Luton

Independence and Rules

A notary is an independent officer and must not do anything to compromise this. They should not act in matters where they have a personal interest, and are subject to professional rules and standards to ensure the protection of their clients. Notaries are also bound to follow the rules on the prevention of money laundering. They must also be insured against negligence and dishonesty.

Public Records kept by a Notary

A notary will keep a full set of the originals or copies of all the official documents that they make and this serves as a permanent public record. They must make these available to all those who have a proper right to see them including their client and any other parties involved in such documents. They also refer to the record to make copies when needed.

Conflicts of Interest

A Notary has to act independently and impartially. A notary may act for both parties to a contract, but they have to identify potential conflicts of interest if they exist and try to resolve them if possible.

Foreign Languages

Documents presented to a notary may be in a foreign language. The notary must ensure that both they and the client understand the meaning and effect of the document. Notaries do not usually give advice about the meaning or effect of a document or transaction. It is important that the client shows the notary any correspondence or advice that he has been given by others.

A Notary Public may also be known as a Notario Publico, Notaio, Notario, Notar or a Notaire.

Legalisation

Some documents to be used outside the UK may need to be legalised. Legalisation means that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office puts a certificate on the document confirming the Notary's credentials. The Foreign Office certificate, for some countries, is known as an Apostille.

Legalisation is a double check to make sure that the notary signature is genuine and recognised and this is done by government departments and embassies. Documents are checked by foreign embassies to make sure that the notary's signature matches the one on their records.