It depends on what kind of notarisation is required. A UK Notary Public can perform several acts, some of which are possible with a pre-signed document, while others are strictly not.
The crucial factor is whether the receiving authority needs the notary to have witnessed the signature or if another form of authentication is acceptable.
If the requirement is for a witnessed signature, then no, you cannot notarise a document that is already signed.
The primary purpose of witnessing is for the notary to personally observe the act of signing and confirm the signer’s identity and willingness.
Since they did not see you sign the original document, they cannot truthfully certify that they witnessed it.
In this case, you must sign a new, unsigned copy of the document in the notary’s presence, either in person or through a valid remote notarisation process.
In some circumstances, a notary might be able to perform an acknowledgement of signature.
This means you would appear before the notary, confirm your identity, and acknowledge that the existing signature on the document is indeed yours.
The notary would then prepare a certificate stating this acknowledgement.
However, it’s essential to understand that not all receiving authorities accept acknowledgements; some require a witnessed signature. Furthermore, a notary can refuse an acknowledgement if they have any concerns.
If the requirement is simply for a certified copy of the document, then the fact that the original is already signed is usually not a problem.
The notary certifies the copy as a true and accurate representation of the original, not authenticating the signature on the original. The copy must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary.
There are also instances where a Notary is asked to authenticate a signature, which is not accepted everywhere.
Finally, the rules are different for e-apostilles. The document must be a PDF with a qualified electronic signature from a UK solicitor or notary. Whether the original document was pre-signed is irrelevant; the electronic signature on the PDF matters.
In summary, you cannot have a pre-signed document notarised if a witnessed signature is required. An acknowledgement might be possible, but acceptance must be checked.
Certified copies of pre-signed documents are generally fine. For e-Apostilles, the focus is on the solicitor/notary’s electronic signature on a PDF.
Always confirm the exact requirements of the receiving authority.
