PAPERS TO BE SENT TO ME IN ADVANCE:
It can save time, expense, and avoid mistakes if, as far in advance of your appointment as possible, you can let me have the originals or e mailed copies of:
- The documents to be notarised
- Any letter or other form of instruction that you have received about what has to be done with the documents;
IDENTIFICATION:
I will need you to produce to me by way of formal identification the original of:
- your current passport or, (if not available);
- a current new driving licence (with photo);
- a recent bank statement, utility bill or similar document showing your current address.
PROOF OF NAMES:
In a case where your name as recorded on the document is different from the name you are currently using, or there has been a variation in the form of spelling of the name over the years, please provide me with, for example, Certificates of Birth, Marriage, or a Divorce Decree. If there has been a change of name, then I will need to see a copy of the Deed Poll or Statutory Declaration, (or Marriage Certificate) under which it was affected.CHAIN OF EVIDENCE:
Notarisation is accepted as a safeguard under international law. The signature and seal of a Notary are recognised as a link in the chain of evidence relating to international documents. If therefore I seem to you to be pedantic and over particular as to minor details, please understand the responsibility placed on me!INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTS:
The Notary has to check that each document to be notarised is fully completed. Unfortunately, many documents produced as ready for signature have blank spaces left in them, not always intentionally! This occurs even when other lawyers or professional advisers have prepared them. If you can help in identifying the information needed to complete any blanks in a document, it will save time when we meet. However, please do not mark the document itself until I have seen it. It will always assist if you can e mail me a copy of the document before your appointment.EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE:
Careful examination by the Notary is required in order to check whether both the document to be notarised and your identification documents are original, genuine, valid, complete, accurate and unaltered. This does take a little time. It is very different from a document being certified by a solicitor, more time consuming and therefore more expensive.ADVICE ON THE DOCUMENT:
If you bring a document to me, as a Notary, for certification I will advise you o
f the formalities required for completing it. I will also need to be satisfied that you understand the contents of the document, particularly if it is not in English. However, I will not be attempting to advise you about the transaction itself, and you must seek such advice from your own lawyer or persons asking you to have the document signed before me.
