Welcome to Notary Public Kendal
With over 30 years experience, I offer the full range of Notarial services in Kendal and throughout the wider Northwest.
My services may be available at your home or business (including weekends or after business hours), please discuss when making contact with me as well as of course, at my offices.
I am regulated by the Master of the Faculties through the faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Click on a link below for more information.
- How much does it cost?
- What is a Notary Public?
- What does a Notary Public actually do?
- What services does Notary Public Kendal offer?
- Preparing to see a Notary Public
- Responsibilities of a Notary Public
- Proof and Identification
- Documentation
- Consultation with a Notary Public
- Data Protection Act & Notaries
- Complaints
- Data Protection Privacy Notice
- Regulatory Information
How much does it cost?
In most circumstances I offer a "fixed fee" service, agreed in advance. My services are not subject to VAT.
If you require a cost quotation, or wish to make an appointment, please contact me.
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What is a Notary Public?
A Notary is an officer of the law who holds an internationally recognised public office. The duty and function of a Notary is to prepare, attest, authenticate and certify deeds and other documents, for use anywhere in the world. His signature and official seal renders them acceptable, as proof of the matter attested by him, to the judicial or other public authorities in the country where they are to be used.
Clients often require notarial services when dealing with overseas matters. A Notary mainly acts as an impartial and legally trained witness to authenticate and certify the execution of documents required or intended for use outside the UK.
It is important that a Notary is contacted as early on as possible as requirements vary from country to country and further authentication from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or applicable Consulate may be necessary.
By virtue of the international status of his office, the signature and seal of a Notary is recognised as evidence of a responsible legal officer in most countries of the world.
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What does a Notary Public actually do?
A Notary Public will always check the identity of the signatory as well as their capacity and intention. This will involve the checking of certain documents such as a passport or driving license and separate proof of address. The Notary will witness the signature of the person involved and ensure that the document is signed in accordance with English Law and also in accordance with the legal requirements of the country for which the document is required.
A notary will take care to verify the contents of the document and check any facts and information necessary in order to be able to act in a reliable manner. Anyone receiving a notary's document will assume that they have checked all the facts in it and taken the responsibility for them unless they make it clear that this is not the case.
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What services does Notary Public Kendal offer?
Notaries generally act as legally trained impartial witnesses to certify documents for use outside the UK.
Notary Public Kendal offers:
- attesting the signature and execution of documents
- authenticating the execution of documents
- authenticating the contents of documents
- administration of oaths and declarations
- drawing up or noting (and extending) protests of happenings to ships, crews and cargoes
- presenting bills of exchange for acceptance and payment, noting and protesting bills in cases of dishonour and preparing acts of honour
- attending upon the drawing up of bonds
- drawing mercantile documents, deeds agreement and wills in English and (via translation), in foreign languages for use in Britain, the Commonwealth and other foreign countries
- verifying of translations from foreign languages to English and vice versa
- taking evidence in England and Wales as a Commissioner for Oaths for foreign courts
- the provision of Notarial copies
- powers of attorney, corporate records, contracts
- international domain name transfers
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Preparing to see a Notary Public
For the most efficient use of a notary service, it is recommended that you:
- Contact a Notary as soon as possible
- Be ready to provide the Notary with a copy of the document needed to be notarised and any covering letter received
- On meeting the Notary have available a passport and a utility bill which confirms the identity and residential address of each person signing the document
There may be additional requirements for a company. The Notary will be able to supply the relevant information.
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Responsibilities of a Notary Public
Notarial acts require a high standard of care, as reliance on such acts is made by clients, third parties and foreign governments and officials. The Notary has a responsibility to protect against error, omission, alterations, fraud, and forgery.
Notarial acts are not rubber stamping exercises and the requirements of accuracy and validity cannot be overridden by urgency or expense.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing Notarial responsibility is limited to the Notarial formalities and does not extend to advice on or drafting of documentation or on the matter under consideration.
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Proof and Identification
In order to meet the high standard of Notarial acts, the Notary is required to obtain proof (to his discretion and satisfaction), of identity, any represented legal capacity and authority, clients understanding of documentation, interpretation/or translation into or from other languages, effectiveness of documentation, validity, signature and witnessing, observance of required formalities both in England and abroad, and the requirements of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and/or any relevant consular or similar authorities.
In the case of individuals, proof may be required, with production of appropriate certificates where applicable, of birth, baptism, marriage, divorce, deed poll on change of name, or statutory declaration. Identification of individuals will be required.
Individuals should produce a current passport or, in exceptional cases, other proof of similar validity and reliability, which may include identification by third parties known both to the individual and to the Notary.
In the case of companies, details of the proof and information required, depending on the circumstances and service required, should be discussed in advance with the Notary. Notarial attendance at a company board meeting may be required in some cases, which may be arranged at our offices if required.
Company searches may be required in support or proof of certain corporate acts. It is required that these are obtained direct from Companies House by the Notary, at the cost of the client. Time should be allowed to obtain these in advance of any personal attendance.
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office endorsement (and/or the endorsements of the relevant High Commission/Embassy/Consulate of the country in which it is proposed to use the document the subject of a Notarial act), is required in some cases for use abroad, as an additional authentication to notarised documents. This is usually obtained by the Notary at the expense of the client and is usually applied for by post. In urgent cases clients may have to attend in person or incur despatch/courier charges.
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Documentation
Preparation of documentation for Notarial action is formal and prior preparation of documents or draft documents may be required.
Early discussion of outline requirements with the Notary is advised.
Time, expense, and error, may be saved if clients, or their advisors, provide, in advance of any personal consultation, the originals or exact and complete photocopies of:-
- all documents to be notarised
- covering correspondence or forms of instructions from the country to which the documentation is to be provided that relate to that act
- identification evidence (as referred to above)
Copies of documents produced ancillary to or in support of Notarial acts may be required for retention, as will copies or original duplicates of Notarial acts, to form part of the required Notarial register/record.
Documents to be notarised should not be bound, as the Notary may have to re-bind them with a covering Notarial Certificate.
Translations may be required of documents before and/or after or as part of a Notarial act. The Notary can usually arrange or advise on this aspect if required.
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Consultation with a Notary Public
An initial appointment and an appointment to finalise the Notarial act may be required, particularly if documentation has to be prepared in formal style.
Please contact me for more information.
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Data Protection Act & Notaries
Details of clients of the practice and matter references will be stored on computer for archive and retrieval purposes and may be used to mail client communications from the Notarial Practice.
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Regulatory Information
In most circumstances I offer a "fixed fee" service, based on the number of documents to be processed, agreed in advance. My services are not subject to VAT.
Please contact me, preferably by calling my number, to discuss which documents you require to be notarised. I can advise you if any further legalisation may be required and if so what my total fee would be.This ensures that you know exactly what the total cost of my service will be before we meet.
Indemnity Insurance
I am fully covered by indemnity insurance under my professional indemnity policy to the level of £3 million per claim as required by my professional rules.
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