Strand Notary handles notarisation, apostille, and legalisation for individuals, businesses, and professionals – so your documents are ready for use abroad with ease.
Notaries form a distinct legal profession. In England and Wales, notaries are the oldest surviving legal profession, predating solicitors and barristers.
Unlike solicitors and barristers, a notary is a public official whose duty is to the public in general. Notaries record agreements between parties, usually for use abroad, and give an additional layer of authenticity for persons in a foreign jurisdiction.
The traditional function of the notary is to record agreements and statements made by members of the public. These often relate to dealings in a personal or corporate capacity in another jurisdiction which requires the notarial act.
A notarial certificate is an additional certificate signed by the notary and affixed to the documents. It may include confirmations of the identity of a signatory, capacity, authority and execution formalities.
The types of overseas dealings used frequently include marriage or divorce, charities, purchasing property, international property investment, logistics, warehousing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, shipping, sports management and wealth management.
Documents may be required by or for professionals including accountants, architects, doctors and other health professionals, engineers, insolvency practitioners, patent and trade mark attorneys, solicitors and notaries.
Before meeting with the notary, please email the documents and any specific requirements or instructions from the recipient.
Email the documents to be notarised, any instructions received, and your identification documents for initial review.
The notary will review the documents before the meeting and raise any issues about form, identity, capacity or authority.
Depending on the document, the notary will ensure you understand the statement you have been asked to make and that you are signing of your own free will.
The notary will add their signature and seal. If FCDO legalisation or embassy attestation is needed, this can be arranged.
The party requesting your document in the receiving jurisdiction should tell you whether notarisation alone is sufficient or whether apostille or consular legalisation is also required.
There are many situations in which an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) needs to be affixed to the notarised document. The notary authenticates the document, while the FCDO verifies the seal or signature of the notary or other UK public official.
If there is any doubt, we recommend that you check with the recipient and consider obtaining FCDO legalisation.
This is the process by which the document is authenticated at the embassy or high commission of the country where the document is going to be used. This usually follows notarisation and FCDO legalisation.
Consular legalisation is usually required only for countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Timescales and fees vary, and these will be advised when you instruct us.
In suitable cases, documents may be capable of being signed electronically and dealt with using advanced or qualified electronic signatures. This may be useful where the receiving party accepts electronic documents, electronic notarisation, or an e-Apostille.
Acceptance is not automatic. Many authorities, banks, registries, embassies and overseas recipients still require a paper document with a wet-ink signature, notarial seal and physical apostille. Please check with the recipient before proceeding electronically.
Where part of your group is located abroad, we may also be able to assist with electronic verification and remote notarising in suitable cases. This depends on the specific circumstances, the document, the jurisdiction, the identity checks required, and whether the recipient will accept that process. Please get in touch before making arrangements.
If you are unsure, please send the recipient’s instructions before the appointment. This helps the notary check whether a paper, electronic or remote route is more appropriate.
Fees are calculated with reference to complexity, value, nature of work, time spent, urgency, number of documents, drafting or amendment involvement, and the number of persons appearing before the notary.
You must bring with you the following documents for each party when you visit the notary:
If you are unable to produce these, please let us know. We may not be able to act where ID and anti-money laundering requirements are unsatisfactory.
Names and addresses must match those on the documents. Documents may be verified with UV light. We reserve the right to undertake third-party ID and AML checks for which additional fees may apply.
The full FAQ page deals with first meetings, fees, apostilles, overseas delivery, academic certificates, GRO certificates and wills/probate.
There is a minimum fee of £220. Fees are calculated at the hourly rate of £350 unless specified otherwise and no VAT is payable.
Yes. We can arrange for documents to be sent internationally. Please contact us in advance for fees.
Electronic notarisation may be possible in limited cases where the recipient confirms it will accept electronically signed documents and where an e-Apostille is appropriate. Many recipients still require paper documents. Please check with the recipient before proceeding.
Please email the document, any instructions from the recipient, and brief details of where the document will be used. This helps the notary review requirements before next steps.
Email: dp@strandnotary.co.uk
London, Surrey, Middlesex and Hertfordshire.
Appointments by arrangement.
