Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary is a qualified lawyer – a member of the third and oldest branch of the legal profession in the United Kingdom. We are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and are subject to regulation by the Court of Faculties. The rules which affect Notaries are very similar to the rules which affect Solicitors. We must be fully insured and maintain fidelity cover for the protection of our clients and the public. We must keep clients’ money separately from our own and comply with stringent practice rules and rules relating to conduct and discipline. Notaries have to renew their practising certificates every year and can only do so if we have complied with the rules.

How much will it cost?

This depends on the nature and quantity of the documents with a minimum charge of £75 which for example would be a simple certified copy of a passport. For more numerous documents I charge on a time basis calculated at a charge-out rate of £295 per hour. This will include initial instructions, drafting notarial certificates, attending you (including travelling and waiting time where necessary), dealing with legalisation, and making up the records I am required to keep. Legalisation fees and disbursements will be charged at cost. I will give you an estimate of my costs based on the information you give me. For this reason I will always ask you to send me copies of the documents you need to notarise together with any instructions.  I accept payment by cash, bank transfer (provided it is made before we meet) or cards up to a limit of £100.

What do I need to bring with me?

You will always be required to bring with you at least two forms of identification, usually your passport and another document showing your current address, for example a recent utility bill. If the document is a commercial document and is being signed on behalf of a company, then you will need to bring evidence that you are authorised to sign documents on the company’s behalf. I will always send you information setting out in detail exactly what is required. You need to bring with you any documents you need to sign.  I have very limited printing facilities.  In an emergency I can print out a very short document of one or two pages but I reserve the right to charge for this. I am not able to print longer documents.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes but I am usually able to see clients at short notice and I will always try to find time if the matter is particularly urgent.

What is an Apostille including the new e-Apostille?

An Apostille is a device introduced by the Hague Convention to do away with the necessity of having a document legalised by the Consulate of the country for which the document is needed. Countries which have signed up to the Hague Convention have agreed to require no other formality other than a stamp (the Apostille) put on by the government of the country in which the Notary works. In the UK the Apostille is affixed by the legalisation department of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which has records of all practising notaries, their signatures and seals.

The e-Apostille is a new service recently introduced by the FCDO whereby they will issue an electronic Apostille instead of a paper one. It still requires notarisation of documents but my signature will be digitally signed with a Qualified Electronic Signature.  Please note though that it is your responsibility to ensure that an e-Apostille will be accepted by the receiving jurisdiction. You can read more from the FCDO here.

When is an Apostille needed?

Usually the lawyers in the foreign jurisdiction will specifically state that an Apostille is needed. Sometimes they simply assume that one will be affixed and do not mention it specifically. Commercial documents very often need Apostilles and Powers of Attorney almost always. If in doubt, it is better to have an Apostille affixed than not.

How much does an Apostille cost?

The FCDO in Milton Keynes charge £45 per document. This is a postal service only.  When I am asked by a client to arrange for the Apostille to be affixed, for non-urgent cases I post the document to the FCDO and it is processed according to their current service levels.  This varies between one and three weeks.  If the matter is more urgent then I use agents to process the documents. Their fees depend on the number of documents.

What do Notaries do?

Our role is usually concerned with documents which have to be used abroad, although they do have specific domestic functions to perform in connection with Bills of Exchange and Ship’s Protests. Examples of documents which notaries are commonly asked to notarise are:

• Certifying passports
• Powers of Attorney, particularly with regard to foreign property transactions
• Property sale or mortgage documents for use in the United States
• Sponsorship documents
• Adoption documents for inter country adoption

Am I covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance and do I have a complaints procedure?

Yes I am covered up to £1 million per claim. I have a complaints procedure which can be accessed by clicking on “T&Cs” at the bottom of the screen.

How long will it take and what are the key stages?

I am usually able to see you within a day or so and documents are normally completed there and then. In urgent cases I may be able to see you the same day.  If the documents need to be legalised by the FCDO and/or Countries’ embassies or consulate then the timescale will depend on the country concerned and the current service levels of the FCDO.  This can be found from their website.

Every transaction is different but key stages would be as follows:

Arranging an appointment to see me:  Normally available within a day or two.

Notarising the document: Usually completed at our meeting.

Legalisation: Standard service with the FCDO – dependent on their current service levels – usually between one and three weeks.  Using an agent – 2/3 working days.

Bryn Howell-Pryce – Legalisation and Notary Public Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Lampeter, Cardigan, Carmarthen, and throughout mid and west Wales.
Contact 07539 513944 for legalisation and notary public services.