Notary Public

Biscoes offer a full range of Notary Public Services in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and surrounding areas.

Notary Publics form a small independent and specialised branch of the legal profession, historically originated from Scribes who took notes or minutes of important events and decisions and recorded them as public or private records.

These days, in England, Notaries are largely involved with the preparation, verification, certification, attestation and authentication of information, certificates, deeds and other documents that are intended for use in other countries and foreign jurisdictions.

Notarial services are likely to be required by private clients and businesses who are buying or selling property abroad or who are involved in litigation in foreign courts or moving overseas for work or study, and also by companies and organisations that are involved in importing or exporting or otherwise conducting business abroad.

Once authenticated or attested by a Notary, a document is treated as having the force of a court judgement and accepted throughout most of the world.

Some countries require that additional legalisation formalities be undertaken through verification by their embassy or consulate (or Chamber of Commerce / Trade Association) and others that have signed up to the Hague Convention require affixation of an Apostille by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

We can help you with:

• Witnessing and attesting the execution and signature of documents
• Authenticating the execution and contents of documents
• Administering Oaths and Declarations
• Drafting Affidavits and Declarations
• Preparing Powers of Attorney and Sponsorship Forms
• Arranging and verifying translations from foreign languages into English and vice versa
• Verification and certification of documents including passports, degree and other examination and qualification certificates and criminal record checks
• Preparing documents required in anticipation of marriage or consenting to children travelling abroad
• Obtaining legalisation by UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office of documents by Apostille including original UK birth, marriage, death and civil partnership certificates
• Notarising documents for use in connection with adoption or surrogacy agreements
• Notarising Foreign Wills or Probate papers
• Notarising Bills of Exchange and other Commercial Contracts
• Authenticating and certifying company certificates of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association or other constitutional documentation.
• Notarising the execution of Power of Attorney by Directors or other proper office’s on behalf of a limited company or LLP
• Providing Certified copies of company records, appointments, resolutions, minutes and providing Company Certificates of Good Standing

If you have any queries or to request a free estimate of fees, please email info@biscoes-law.co.uk or telephone 02392 660261.

Services, Fees and Regulatory Information

Services

We like to have as much detail as possible before an appointment so we can be sure of the nature of the transaction, advise you as to the exact requirements and provide an indication of timescales and costs.

To that end we will request that you forward electronic copies of any documents and covering letter from any other lawyers involved, detailing their requirements. 

We will then be able to give you an indication of the costs (see below) and the likely timescales involved, before arranging an appointment.

Wherever practicable we will email you in advance of the appointment a Client Care Letter with Terms of Engagement and a fee Invoice.

You will need to bring photographic ID plus up-to-date proof of address to the meeting.

Fees

The cost of an individual transaction will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The type of document
• The number of documents involved
• The Country/Jurisdiction for which they are intended
• Whether for business or personal use
• Whether legalisation formalities are required

Fees are assessed and calculated on the time taken from initial enquiry through to completion at an hourly rate (currently of £310.00).

However, wherever possible, we will provide in advance of an appointment a fixed quotation (currently subject to a minimum charge of £160.00).

Fees quoted are exclusive of VAT.

Disbursements and expenses (for example as charged by the FCDO for Apostilles, Embassies and Consular Agents) will be invoiced separately.

Payment can be made by cheque, bank transfer or debit/credit card. Cash (except in very small sums) will not be accepted.

No document will be released until the fees, including disbursements, have been settled in full.

Regulatory Information and Redress

Regulation

Notaries are regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Faculty Office

1 The Sanctuary

Westminster, London, SW1 3JT

www.facultyoffice.org.uk

email:  faculty.office@1thesanctuary.com

Insurance

The Notaries carry both professional indemnity and separate fidelity cover in the sum of £1 million as specified by the Master of the Faculties.

Complaints

In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with the service you have received then please contact the Notary direct and hopefully a mutually satisfactory resolution will be found.

The Notaries are members of the Notaries Society which provides a free to use complaints procedure details of which can be obtained from

The Secretary of the Notaries Society

PO Box 1023

Ipswich, IP1 9XB

Email:  secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk

In the event that the Notary in person, the Notaries Society or the Faculty Office are unable to resolve any issue to your satisfaction then (within a twelve-month period) you may refer such to

The Legal Ombudsman

PO Box 6806

Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ

www.legalombudsman.org.uk

email:  enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk