Notary Public Sheffield

notary public sheffield

Contact Me

Telephone:

07738 232887

Email:

rd@rdnotary.co.uk

Welcome to Notary Public Sheffield

Notary Public Sheffield is your source for information on Notarial matters in the Sheffield, South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire areas (including Doncaster, Rotherham, Worksop and Chesterfield).

Please visit the contact page to obtain advice or to arrange Notarisation or Legalisation.

Notaries are Regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Click on a link below for more detailed information.

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary, or Notary Public, can authenticate or legalise any document. A Notary can also provide legalisation or an apostille, if needed. You will normally require the services of a Notary Public when you have documents which are needed to be used abroad. The Notary's signature and seal will verify to the authorities in that country that the relevant checks have been carried out.

The need for a Notary public is dictated by the requirements of the country where the document is to be used. For example, if you wish to buy a property abroad, it is often necessary to give your overseas lawyer power to deal with the purchase. This can be done by means of a power of attorney, which is signed by you in front of a Notary. The Notary public will confirm your name and identity and sign the document and seal it with their official seal. Often, an apostille is needed to verify the signature and seal of the Notary.

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What does a Notary Public actually do?

A Notary Public must always check the identity of the signatory as well as his or her capacity and intention. This will involve the checking of certain documents such as a passport and separate proof of address. They may witness the signature of the person involved and/or ensure that the document is signed in accordance with English Law.

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What services does Notary Public Sheffield offer?

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

Notary Public Sheffield offers:

  • Witnessing the execution of documents and verifying the authenticity of signatures
  • Certifying Powers of Attorney for use abroad
  • Certifying passports
  • Notarising documents for use in buying or selling property abroad
  • Certifying birth and marriage certificates
  • Verifying translations from foreign documents to English and vice versa
  • Notarising Bills of exchange and other contracts
  • Legalisation 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
  • Certifying examination certificates
  • Confirming identification records when applying for lost or stolen passports
  • Notarising foreign Wills

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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. They are also bound to follow the rules on the prevention of money laundering. Notaries must be insured against negligence and dishonesty.

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Public Records kept by a Notary

A Notary will keep copies of all the public official documents that they make and this serves as a 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.

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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.

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Foreign Languages

Documents presented to a Notary may be in a foreign language. The Notary must ensure that the client understands the meaning and effect of the document (and may need to understand the document themselves by way of a translation). 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.

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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 many countries, is known as an Apostille. A separate certificate or stamp from the relevant consulate may also be needed.

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

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How much does Notarisation cost?

Fees are calculated on the basis of a number of different elements which are taken into consideration e.g. the nature and number of documents and the time calculated to be involved, and any other factors where these apply. No sample price list is issued however, the Notary is pleased to have a ‘no obligation’ discussion or exchange of emails in order to be in a position to give an estimate of notary fees and the other costs involved in advance of undertaking any work – assuming the documents have already been prepared, are ready for signature and are emailed to the Notary.

So that an early indication of the costs can be given in advance, please tell the Notary the following:

  • What service you need - witnessing signatures, certifying copy documents, obtaining Apostille etc
  • The type of documents concerned - for instance is it a Power of Attorney that you need witnessing (and email it to the Notary)
  • Who is signing or presenting the documents - are they personal papers or for a Company?
  • How many documents are there?
  • Which country they are to go to?

Clients are expected to settle fees ‘on the day’ on completion of the notarisation work, (though apostille or legalisation may be still to be carried out) unless there is agreement to the contrary.

Please visit the contact page to obtain a quotation.

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How Long will it take?

Each notarial matter is different and the requirements and timescales will vary according to whether the client is a private individual or a company and according to the processing times of third parties (if relevant) such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, legalisation agents, and couriers, etc. Most of my notarising work is accomplished within a few days and an appointment rarely lasts longer than 30 minutes because the preparatory work has normally been carried out ahead of the appointment. Obtaining apostilles from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (if needed) normally takes an additional few days. Some of the typical key stages are likely to include:

1. Receiving and reviewing the documents to be notarised together with any instructions you may have received

2. Liaising with other bodies to obtain the necessary documentation to deal with the document (e.g. information from Companies House or foreign registries, powers of attorney etc)

3. Checking the identity, capacity and authority of the person who is to sign the document

4. If a document is to be certified as ‘genuine’, checking with the issuing authorities that the document/award is genuine. In the case of academic awards, this would entail checking with the appropriate academic institutions.

5. Meeting with the signatory to verify their identity and to ascertain that they understand what they are signing and that they are doing so of their own free will and ensuring that the document is executed correctly

6. Drafting and affixing or endorsing a notarial certificate to the document 

7. Arranging for the legalisation/apostille of the document as appropriate

8. Arranging for the storage of copies of all notarised documents in accordance with professional rules.

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What if I have a Complaint?

Redress - I am insured under a professional indemnity policy for at least £1,000,000.00.

Complaints and Regulatory Information 

1. My notarial practice is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury: 

The Faculty Office 1, The Sanctuary  Westminster London SW1P 3JT 

Telephone 020 7222 5381 Email Faculty.office@1thesanctuary.com

Website www.facultyoffice.org.uk

2. If you are dissatisfied about the service you have received please do not hesitate to contact me. 

3. If we are unable to resolve the matter you may then complain to the Notaries Society of which I am a member, who have a Complaints Procedure which is approved by the Faculty Office. This procedure is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution to any dispute. 

4. In that case please write (but do not enclose any original documents) with full details of your complaint to :- 

The Secretary of The Notaries Society P O Box 7655 Milton Keynes MK11 9NR 

Email secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk Tel : 01908 803527

If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing please do not hesitate to call the Notaries Society/the Faculty Office for assistance. 

5. Finally, even if you have your complaint considered under the Notaries Society Approved Complaints Procedure, you may at the end of that procedure, or after a period of 6 months from the date you first notified me that you were dissatisfied, make your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman*, if you are not happy with the result : 

Legal Ombudsman P O Box 6167 Slough SL1 0EH

Tel : 0300 555 0333 Email : enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk Website : www.legalombudsman.org.uk

6. If you decide to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman you must refer your matter to the Legal Ombudsman :- 

• Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint and 

• Six years from the date of act/omission; or 

• Three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint (only if the act or omission took place more than six years ago) 

The act or omission, or when you should have reasonably known there was cause for complaint, must have been after 5th October 2010. 

*certain kinds of commercial entities are not eligible to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman – please refer to the Legal Ombudsman Scheme Rules or consult the Faculty Office.

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