Key Information

Service information

Each notarial matter is different and the requirements will vary

according to whether the client is a private individual or a company.

Some of the typical key stages are likely to include:

• Receiving and reviewing the documents to be notarised

together with any instructions you may have received

• Liaising with your legal advisors or other bodies to obtain

the necessary documentation to deal with the document

(for example, information from Companies House or foreign

registries, powers of attorney etc)

• Checking the identity, capacity and authority of the person who

is to sign the document

• If a document is to be certified, checking with the issuing

authorities or institutions that the document/award is genuine

(this is most common with educational certificates)

• Meeting with the signatory to verify their identity and to

ascertain that they understand what they are signing and that

they are doing so of their own free will

• Ensuring that the document is executed correctly

• Drafting and affixing or endorsing a notarial certificate to the

document

• Arranging for the legalisation of the document as appropriate

• Storing copies of all notarised documents in accordance with

the requirements of the Notarial Practice Rules 2019

• Invoicing and taking payment.

Timescales for our notarial work vary depending on the service being

provided. A simple certification can usually be completed at the

appointment. Drafting a document can take several days depending

on its complexity and whether any additional information is required.

Timescales for arranging legalisation also vary depending on which

embassies or consulates needs to be contacted and whether an

apostille is necessary. We do our best to provide estimates at the

relevant time.

Notarial records and data protection

When we carry out our notarial work, we are required to make an

entry in a formal register, to be kept as a permanent record. In

addition to copies of your identity documents, we will also keep a full

copy in electronic form of any official documents produced to us or

that we produce for you as a permanent record.

As a notary is a public official, documents and records including

copies are open to inspection by anyone who has a proper interest

in them.

Our fees

The minimum charge for dealing with a single document is normally

£90 plus VAT (£108) for personal documents and £180 plus VAT

(£216)for business documents. Additional documents are typically

charged at £45 plus VAT (£54) per personal document and £90 plus

VAT (£108) per business document. If there are additional signatories,

we charge an additio+nal £45 plus VAT (£54) per person and £90 plus

VAT (£108) for an additional business signatory.

If it is a simple matter of witnessing a document, we will

usually charge a fixed fee. If there are complications or

attachments or if we are required to draft a document or

obtain legalisation, there will be additional charges. These may

include telephone calls made or received, letters or emails

sent or received, time spent in meetings, on drafting and on

preparing the necessary entries in the notarial register where

applicable. Our current hourly rate is £350 plus VAT (£420).

We charge £60 plus VAT (£72) for obtaining apostilles by post. Different

fees will apply if we use our agents and estimates will be given

depending on the urgency and other requirements.

Once we have seen any documents and any instructions sent to you

about the document, we may be able to give you a firm indication or

estimate of the likely charges.

Special factors which might result in an increase of the charge

include complexity or novelty, the number of or importance of the

documents, whether or not the work has to be done away from this

office and special urgency which may require us to drop other work

to deal with yours or if the work unavoidably has to be dealt with

outside office hours.

As indicated above, VAT at the current rate is added to all our fees.

Payments made on your behalf (disbursements)

Legalisation fees may have to be paid to the Foreign &

Commonwealth Office and/or a foreign embassy. There may be

translator or interpreter fees. Other payments may be required

including administration, legalisation agent’s fees and travelling

expenses. Your approval to these will be obtained and you are

normally required to make payments in advance of any such amounts.

The Foreign Office charges £45 for apostilles obtained by post.

Invoicing and payment

Unless otherwise agreed invoices are payable in full immediately

without any deduction by way of set off, counterclaim or otherwise.

If an invoice is not settled within 30 days interest at the rate specified

in the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 is payable

from the date of invoice. We reserve the right to recover on a full

indemnity basis any costs incurred in collectingoverdue payments,

and to retain all documents and any other .items in our possession

relating to any matter until invoices are paid in full.