A Notary is a member of a distinct and independent branch of the legal profession whose duties include authenticating or certifying the signatures and acts of individuals and companies for use anywhere in the world. His duties can also extend to the preparation of a wide range of legal documents. You are most likely to require the services of a Notary when you are transacting business overseas such as opening a bank account, buying and selling a property or entering into one of a broad range of commercial or personal transactions involving foreign assets.

A Notary is required to identify individual signatories and in many cases to confirm the capacity and authority of persons executing documents. Once "notarised" the document may need to be "legalised" by the Foreign Office. This is the process whereby the Foreign Office confirm that the document bears the seal and signature of a duly enrolled Notary. Sometimes the document also needs to be legalised by the Consulate of the country to which it is going to be sent.

The following are examples of notary services which can be provided. This is not an exhaustive list:-

• Applications for citizenship
• Authentication of capacity, identity and signatures
• Transfer of patents, trade marks and domain names
• Bills of Exchange - noting, protesting and general advice
• Certification of documents
• Legalisation service with the Foreign Office (Apostille) and Foreign Embassies
• Verifying specimen signatures
• Preparation and witnessing of Powers of Attorney
• Preparation of sponsorship forms for persons visiting the UK from abroad
• Shipping Protests
• Taking declarations and affidavits for use abroad
• Verification of acts and events to be used as evidence in litigation or insurance claims
• Verification of transactions relating to sale and purchase of land and property overseas