What is a notary public and why would someone use one?

[Overseasmom100]

Just wondering what this is

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_public

I think it's just a solicitor who can sign legal documents. We had to take documents to one when selling a house abroad, just to verify documents were genuine I think. Sorry can't remember exact details it was a long time ago.

Ummm ok

Can it be a police officer?

Read the link.

I love that there is a subsection titled "Notable notaries".

You'd commonly use one in here if you were dealing with legal matters in another country (I.e. to certify documents and signatures, house purchases etc.) Our legal system is set up so that solicitors would do most of these things instead (nothing to stop you using a notary public mind).

We had to use one when we bought a property abroad 12 years ago, our solicitor gave us details of those local to us. Never heard of one up until that point.

I’m in Canada and have used a notary public three times. They formalized a house sale that didn’t involve an agent (a work colleague asked to buy my house, we shook hands and the notary did the rest). Around the same time a builder asked us to trade empty lots, same thing; hand shake and the notary did the necessary documentations. Third time was when dh and I had wills drawn up, nothing fancy.
Notary’s in Canada are much less expensive than lawyers for simple matters.
I’ve had acquaintances use them to sign passports when no one else fit the requirements.

We took DD's friend on a cruise. She was under 18 so the cruise line required a Notary to witness a signed letter from her parents giving us full parental responsibility should she require medical attention etc. It had a red wax seal on it.

I have used this service once in the US, it was a chap in a delivery service who had to verify that the photocopied marriage certificate was a genuine copy of the original document.
This would have been taken on trust in the UK.

In Scotland they all have to be solicitors.
Not all solicitors are notaries.

I had to have a statement notarised when my pal was getting divorced.

I think in England/Wales they have to be some sort of lawyer so a police officer couldn't do it.

Not sure of the position in the rest of the country

I used one to authorised my mums identity docs for a foreign bank transaction. She had account with that bank but wanted to close it and transfer funds to U.K. She had to attend (at his home office) with docs which were copied and bound in tape countersigned by notary and sealed. Sent off to foreign bank who were then able to carry out her instruction.
All straightforward a bit like an enhanced swearing of a doc.

Notaries are different to solicitors who can swear things. All notaries i found and the one we used were accountants or similar plus had a notary licence.

We needed this when sorting out our paperwork for a Korean Visa. He had to check and certify copies of our original documents.

I use a notary for work. The notary is a qualified solicitor who has an additional notarial qualification. I have a relative in the US who is notary and has a specific qualification for that as an additional role at work. He isn't a lawyer.

If you are being asked to have a document certified then it depends what it is as to who can certify it. It may not have to be a notary.

I wonder if a Notary Public is the same (or at least similar) as a Commissioner for Oaths. I used to work with solicitors donkey's years ago and I came across both qualifications frequently. We used to see affidavits countersigned by NPs and CFOs.

I have very recently had docs sworn(sol) around 5-10£ certified ( my solicitor told me what I needed to write on the copy and then I needed to get my signature witnessed and the witness needed to write something about having witnesses my signature. And notarised by notary public. From memory this was around £40 and needed for foreign banking stuff.

Well the one I had to use to get some ID verified had an office in a listed building and charged me £75 to stamp two bits of paper. So I’d say he’s a lucky lucky bastard. I’d like to have an office in a listed building and make £300 an hour stamping things. It’s pretty much my dream job.

A notary in the UK is a legal professional who authenticates documents. Usually this is for overseas transactions. They check the people are genuine, the documents and signature are genuine and that the correct process has been followed.

There are 140000 ish solicitors in the UK but only 750 ish notaries.

They are not the same as US notaries who are not lawyers but licensed officials.

Some notaries are also solicitors but not all. They have similar training but a notary needs to undertake a further diploma which includes conflict of laws and documentary practice in the UK and overseas.

Whilst both are commissioners for oaths and can certify documents, an overseas recipient will often insist on a notary certification for the extra people and documentary certifications and record keeping.

Notaries have procedural rules to follow and insurance requirements.

Hope this helps.

This page explains a lot about it and the difference between notarising an an apostille Notary Public