Help, how can I get copies of my ID certified as original?

[hepaticanobilis]

I'm in the process of remortgaging and need to send the solicitors copies of my ID and proof of address certified as originals. The solicitors are a firm chosen by the bank and hours away from me so I can't visit.

I've asked a local solicitors if they offer this for a fee and they have said no as they haven't known me for 2 years? I can't see any reference to 2 years on the list on the gov.uk site here: www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

I thought the 2 year rule was only for passports and things like that. This would literally just involve taking photocopies of the originals and signing them to say they are copies of the original.

Where can I go to get this done? I don't know anyone working in a profession like the ones listed. I also work from home and generally don't see many people day to day to this is extra complicated as I can't just ask a colleague (they are hours away from me too!), neighbours on either side are retired and local friends don't work in professions like this.

your Bank? If they recommend the solicitors for a mortgage with them they maybe able to help

Post Offices provide this service for a small(ish) fee.

Post office, £12 per item I seem to recall. You have to take your own photocopies with you for them to stamp and sign.

I've asked a local solicitors if they offer this for a fee and they have said no as they haven't known me for 2 years?

Weird. As a solicitor and notary public I certify things and witness things all the time without knowing the people involved. It's literally just staying that the photocopy is a true copy of the original. When I worked in a high street firm it was £25 (more for stuff going abroad) but that was 12 years ago... I'd try a different local firm.

The post office will do certified copies of ID for fee of about £12. Had to do this myself this week as I am selling a property and the solicitors need proof of identity. They initially asked me to post off my passport and proof of address to them, which I wasn't happy to do. They then told me they would accept certified copies from the Post Office .

I think the solicitors you asked are probably confused about what you need. When I needed my degree certified, I went to a local solicitors office and told them 'you just need to write this and sign it', they thought it was more complicated. So I would suggest either trying a different one or post office as mentioned above. Good luck!

Yeah, we did this.

The solicitors sound like they’ve got the wrong end of the stick. You just need someone to say it’s a true copy.

Sorry, that was to the post office. We did this using a post office.

Will look at the Post Office service, although I'm not sure how to get the photocopies in the first place. Gah, why does this have to be so complicated!?

Or I might email another high street solicitors... The one I contacted is a very established local firm, and I explained in my email it was for a remortgage so I could send the copies of my ID documents off to the bank's solicitors and they got back to me to say the solicitor would need to have known me for two years.

A solicitor will charge you a lot more than the post office will! Just go to a print shop / library and get photocopies?

I think the solicitors thought you wanted ID certification like you need to get a first passport, where you write on the back of the photo that this is the person. Then you do need to know someone for 2 years.

You just need to have someone write that it's a true copy. I used to do it all the time when I was a practicing solicitor but lots of people can do it - my kids' teacher did it for me once, our finance manager at work is an accountant and has done it in the past as well.