Notary Public
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary, or Notary Public, can authenticate or legalise any document. You will normally require the services of a Notary Public when you have documents which are needed to be used abroad. The Notaries 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.
Foreign Languages.
Documents presented to a notary may be in a foreign language (for example Russian, Polish, Spanish, Latvian, Estonian, Portuguese, French, Lithuanian etc.). 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, Нотариус, Notārs, Нотаріус, Notaras, Notariusz, Notario, Notar or a Notaire.
What is Legalisation or Apostille?
A notarised document may often need to be further authenticated by having the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm the validity of the notary's signature and seal. The requirement for this will depend on the foreign country involved. This is done by legalisation by the use of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official certificate attached to the document, known as an apostille. These are internationally recognised due to the Hague Convention.
Services that often Notary Public provides:
• Notarising and drafting Powers of Attorney
• Certifying documents that require a Notary Public
• Wills
• Apostille or legalisation
• Swear an Oath or Affidavit
• Notarising commercial contracts
• Overseas Marriage
• Buying or selling a property abroad
• Legal translations and notarisation