If a legal document is being signed in the UK to be used overseas, the foreign country will usually require the document to be witnessed by a notary public rather than a solicitor. This is because the notary’s qualification is recognised abroad and the notary’s signature can be verified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Common Examples of Transactions that need a Notary:
- Medical Professionals applying to work in Australia
- Getting married in the Caribbean or USA
- Granting Power of Attorney to a family member to deal with land in India
- Granting Power of Attorney to a lawyer to deal with land in Spain
- certify identity documents such as a copy of a passport or identity card
- certify copies of education documents such as examination certificates, awards and transcripts
- sign Powers of Attorney for example to buy, sell, transfer or register foreign assets
- buy or sell timeshare property for use in Spain
- make a statutory declaration or affidavit for declaring certain facts and statements
- single status documents in order to marry abroad
- provide consent for your children to travel abroad without you or accompanied by another person
- grant permission for your child to travel abroad without you
- surrogacy and IVF consents
- closing documents for USA
- sponsorship declarations
- prepare and Notarise documents for adoption of children from abroad
- commercial contracts verified by notary public
- authorisation of agents
- translation services
- signing trademark and patent applications