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A Notary Public in London
Notaries Public are trained legal professionals whose primary function is to oversee the proper execution of documents and who also play an important role in the prevention of fraud and as gatekeepers for anti-money laundering purposes. The qualification process for Notaries Public includes a law degree, the Notarial Practice Course, a criminal record check and extensive good character references.
In England and Wales, Notaries Public are regulated through the Faculty Office and are held to high standards in terms of their work. They must properly identify all parties to a document and if a company is to be represented, they must check that the signatory has been expressly authorised to represent the company. They must also check the mental capacity of each signatory and keep records of their work.
Notarial certification
Notaries Public issue notarial acts, sometimes referred to as notarial certifications, by affixing their signature and embossed seal to a document.
The value of a notarial certification is not in the seal and signature itself, but in the wording of the notarial certification and the trust that is placed in their statements on a global scale. The notarial certification provides evidence that the document has been properly executed and the signatory properly identified so that the document can be accepted for use in many different foreign jurisdictions.
Who might need a Notary and why?
Certification by a Notary Public is often required to evidence the proper execution of a document which is to be submitted to an overseas body or institution. UK companies with subsidiaries overseas may be requested to have a confirmation of the existence and representation of the UK parent company issued by a Notary Public of England and Wales.
UK banks and employers increasingly request the certification by a Notary Public on copy identification documents. Notaries Public can also take oaths and affidavits for use in court and act as Commissioners for Oaths.
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