How much will it cost? 

Please Contact Me with a copy of the document and any instructions you have received. For most matters I will provide a fixed fee to give you certainty.

My minimum charge is £100. Costs are broadly based on an hourly rate of £260 (which includes time spent undertaking necessary checks, document storage etc). I am not required to register for VAT.

How do I get in touch?

Please contact me.

Do you have parking?

Yes, by arrangement. My address is an 8 minute walk from Guildford mainline train station. 

What documents can you deal with?

Please see Areas of Practice, but if in doubt please do ask as I should be able to deal with the vast majority of work requiring a Notary.

Where can you see me?

I can see you at 9 Dunsdon Avenue, Guildford, Surrey. I may also be available to travel to your home or your offices if more convenient although I may make a charge for this. 

Will I need to see you in person?

In the vast majority of circumstances, yes, as an important part of the work of a notary is identifying the client involved and ascertaining their capacity.

Will I need to prove my identity?

In short - yes! Please see my Terms of Business for further details.

What is a notary?

A Notary is generally a solicitor who undertakes further training to become a Notary. Notaries are qualified lawyers and form the third and oldest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales. There are around 800 Notaries in England and Wales (and, by way of comparison, about 164,000 solicitors). 

Notaries authenticate signatures, capacity and authority in relation to documents used abroad. Unlike that of a solicitor, the authority of a notary public is recognised worldwide once the necessary legalisation formalities have been complied with. In this way the notary provides a bridge between legal systems.

What is legalisation?

Legalisation is the further authentication of a document by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and/or the relevant embassy or consulate. The FCO in effect verifies the signature, seal and appointment of the Notary and attaches their certificate, known as an Apostille. The Apostille is recognised by countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention and mostly no further legalisation is required. 

Countries who are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention generally require further leglisation at their own embassy or consulate.

Some countries and institutions do not require any legalisation.