Is a UK solicitor the same as a notary public?

No, they aren’t the same, and understanding the difference is crucial when legalising documents for use abroad. While both are legal professionals and there’s some overlap in what they can do, their roles and specialisations are distinct.

As a legalisation agency, we deal with this distinction every day, and here’s how it affects getting your documents apostilled or legalised: 

The short answer:

Solicitors are general legal practitioners for UK law. Notary Publics are also lawyers, but they have specialised training and authority to authenticate documents specifically for international use.

• Apostilles (Hague Convention Countries): The good news is that the UK FCDO, which issues apostilles, accepts certifications from both UK-registered solicitors and Notary Publics. So, a solicitor’s certification is enough for many common documents going to Hague Convention countries to get the apostille. We can handle the apostille process for you regardless of whether your document is certified by a solicitor or a notary.

• Legalisation (Non-Hague Convention Countries): This is where it gets more complicated. If your document needs full legalisation (because the destination country isn’t part of the Hague Convention), the embassy or consulate might have specific requirements. Some insist on notarisation by a Notary Public and won’t accept a solicitor’s certification. As an agency, we need to know the destination country immediately to advise you correctly.

• e-Apostilles: For e-apostilles, it’s simpler: either a UK-registered solicitor or a Notary Public can provide the required qualified electronic signature on the PDF document. We can arrange this for you.

• Educational documents: A key difference: Here’s a practical example of where the difference matters. If you have a UK degree certificate, a solicitor can certify a copy as being a true copy of the original. However, a notary public will go further: they must verify the degree’s authenticity directly with the issuing university before they notify it. This extra verification step is why a notary’s certification on an educational document carries more weight for some countries and institutions. As an agency, we understand these nuances and can advise you on the best approach.

• Expertise: We know the requirements of different countries and institutions. We can tell you whether a solicitor’s certification will be sufficient or if you need a Notary Public.

• Solicitor/Notary network: We have relationships with FCDO-registered solicitors and notaries, so we can arrange the necessary certification quickly and efficiently.

• Streamlined process: We handle the entire process for you – from certification to apostille (and legalisation, if needed) – ensuring your document is prepared correctly.

• Avoiding rejection: Our expertise minimises the risk of your document being rejected overseas due to incorrect certification. 

While solicitors and notaries can certify documents, a Notary Public’s certification is designed for international use and is often essential for legalisation.

As an agency, we understand these differences and ensure your documents are prepared correctly for acceptance in the destination country, whether that involves a solicitor, a notary, an apostille, or full embassy legalisation. We take the complexity out of the process for you.