Our Fee is based on our time engaged – we do not charge “per document” – the minimum fee for 25 minutes of the Notary’s time is £120 plus VAT. If we take longer than 25 minutes then this goes up pro rata. When you attend for your appointment that is when we commence work and that is when the clock will start – we prefer to deal with the papers in your presence. The clock usually starts when a client is in attendance however if requested we can consider documentation before the appointment but we will time accordingly. If further legalisation is required then there will be additional costs/disbursements and these fees can be quoted before the appointment.
More information about our fees can be found
here.
Solicitors are the usual lawyers used in England. Notaries public are qualified Lawyers, most of whom are also Solicitors, who have passed additional examinations. Our main area of specialisation is the certification of documents so that they can be effective abroad. A solicitor is not a proper person to certify documents which are intended to be used outside England and Wales – this is the role of a Notary. A Notary must always be independent and impartial. A Notary’s acts can be relied upon as an accurate statement of the facts the world over. On occasion it has been noted that the advisers overseas instruct their client to see a “solicitor” – this is incorrect. Often because their own lawyers are Notaries, they think that the English word for Notary is Solicitor. What they mean is always a “Notary”. All documentation certified in England for use outside of England and Wales should only be dealt with by an English Notary and NOT by a Solicitor.
Yes - but we do require to have an idea of what the Foreign document says. We suggest that in this circumstance the document be emailed to us in MS word “format” and we can obtain an internet translation. Once we are satisfied that the document is a proper “legal document” we will be happy to proceed to Notarise.
Please note it is usual for documentation to be prepared in the country it is intended for i.e. -If you are wishing to give a Power of Attorney to someone overseas then we suggest that a legal adviser be instructed in that country to prepare the necessary Power of Attorney. They can email it direct to us for you to sign here in Leeds and have it Notarised. Please note it is not a Notary’s function to give advice and all advice required should be given to you by your legal adviser. However we can sometimes, if instructed, prepare a form of wording in English language which might be acceptable in a foreign jurisdiction.
Many clients telephone to enquire about our legalisation service and seeking more information about the “Apostille”. If the Country your document is intended for has signed up to The Hague Convention of 1961 then the likelihood is that an “Apostille” will be required.
Once Notarisation has taken place the document will then need to go to the British Foreign Office for the “Apostille” to be placed upon it. This is a stamp which confirms that Mr Atkinson is indeed a Notary Public and the recipient abroad can be assured that you and we have dealt with the document in the correct manner. The Apostille contains a unique number which the recipient can check online.