Karen Aujla Notary Public
If your business or organisation has dealings outside of the UK, you may require documents to be certified, notarised, verified or authenticated by a Notary to be accepted by public and legal authorities in another country. Notarisation is accepted as a safeguard under international law.
Notaries can examine and authenticate a wide range of documents, witnessing or preparing certified copies of these. The notary’s role is to check for fraud, that the signatory understands the document(s) they are signing and that they are happy to do so. A notarised document will bear the notary’s signature and official seal of office.
A Notary will assist with the formalities required for completing a document to be notarised, however, they will not advise a client on the legal effect of the document or the transaction itself and the client must seek such advice from their own lawyer or the persons asking them to have the document notarised in the relevant jurisdiction.
Notaries can also assist in legalisation requirements whether at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or any other relevant embassy/consulate. Legalisation is the process by which the signature and seal of the Notary are authenticated by the FCDO, who will affix and Apostille, and in some cases the relevant Foreign Embassy.
Notarial services include:
- Certifying personal identification documents – passports etc, specimen signatures, photographs.
- Authenticating signatures of company director on documents including powers of attorneys, board resolutions, letters to financial institutions, board minutes and resolutions and share certificates; trademark and patent applications and registrations.
- Certifying facts about companies, including date of incorporation; change of name; memorandum and articles of association; annual returns; directors and shareholders.
- Certifying documents produced on behalf of companies such as VAT registration certificates by HMRC; criminal record checks; company accounts and invoices.
- Taking witness statements, statutory declarations; affidavits, declarations and depositions for use overseas.
- Verifying educational qualifications from UK institutions.
- Witnessing signatures on documents for the sale and purchase of foreign land.
- Legalisation.
The notary’s role is to check for fraud, that the signatory understands the document(s) they are signing and that they are happy to do so. A notarised document will bear the notary’s signature and official seal of office.
Covering London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. Karen can also offer home/office visits and out of hours appointments.