How long does notarisation take?

An appointment will take about 20 minutes assuming the documents are straightforward, already prepared, and in the appropriate form. The time taken when the document is not straightforward will depend on the complexity of the matter.

Do I need a notary public or solicitor?

In the UK, notarisation, and solicitor certification are distinct procedures for different purposes. Notarisation involves a notary public verifying the identity of the signatory and attesting to the authenticity of the document using their seal or stamp. On the other hand, solicitor certification involves a solicitor providing a stamp and signature that attests to the document’s accuracy (true copy). The requirements for notarisation and solicitor certification depend on the document type and legal context.

Will I need to attend an appointment in person?

Only a few documents can be notarised remotely in England and Wales. Remote notarisation depends on the type of documents to be notarised, whether the country where the documents will be used accepts remote notarised documents, and whether the notary is compliant with notarial practice rules and guidance on remote notarisation.

How is a document notarised?

It involves three steps. It begins with reviewing the presented documents, then the legalisation of the document, and finally, the authentication of the legalised document.

Do I need to sign in the presence of a notary?

For most documents, yes, you need to sign in the notary’s presence, and indeed, if it is the first time, your ID must be verified. The notary must witness your signature.

What is a notary public signature?

A notary public signature is a notarised signature that relates to a document requiring authentication. A notary seal is a signature. The signed name applied to the document. A rubber stamp and an embossing seal can also be used in addition to the signature.

UK Notary Service - Get Your UK Documents Notarised

Trusted, full-service notary support

Need fast and easy document notarisation in London? Our services include mobile appointments, evening and weekend availability, and transparent pricing.

Because your time is valuable, we offer swift turnaround and short-notice appointments for urgent needs.

What we notarise

With the help of our notary partners, we provide comprehensive notary services for your personal and business documents for domestic and international use.

Our notaries manage their own offices, conveniently located within a 15-minute walk from our office, ensuring greater flexibility and faster appointment availability.

Some of our most frequently notarised documents include:

Powers of attorney
Affidavits, oaths, & declarations
Passports & educational certificates
Company documents
Indian high commission documents (OCI & PIO cards)
Certificates of life/existence
Name change deeds
And many more!

We also offer notarisation services for certified translations.

When a notary public is required for legalisation

Documents with original official signatures, like birth certificates, court orders, or HMRC letters, can go straight to the FCDO for an apostille.

But you’ll need a notary for:

Powers of attorney: For overseas property, bank accounts, or business affairs
Company documents: Board resolutions, shareholder agreements, certificates of incorporation (as copies), and commercial contracts
Affidavits and declarations: Sworn statements for foreign courts or immigration require a notary to administer the oath.
Certified copies: Passports, driving licences, degree certificates, and professional qualifications

Skip notarisation for:

Original GRO certificates (birth, marriage, death)
Court documents with official stamps
Original ACRO and DBS certificates
HMRC documents with official signatures

Not sure? Send us a scan, and we’ll confirm within hours whether your document needs a notary.

Get your documents reviewed

Our notary service in 3 easy steps

1

Contact us with the document type, your location, and urgency.
2

Send scans of the document, your passport, and proof of address.
3

Receive your quote, pay online, and schedule your appointment.

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From notary to embassy: we cover every step

We manage the complete legalisation chain, not just notarisation:

Step 1: Notarisation

The FCDO-registered notaries we work with verify your identity, witness signatures, and apply their stamp. Takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 2: FCDO apostille

We submit to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Express service delivers apostilles within two working days (standard postal service can take two to three weeks).

Step 3: Embassy attestation (non-Hague countries only)

For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and similar countries, we handle final embassy authentication. UAE typically takes eight to ten working days, Qatar takes 10 to 14 days.

One quote, one point of contact, no surprises.

Book your notary appointment

Clear, upfront notary service fees

We provide our clients with a quote upfront for the provision of services.

In-person notarisation

Personal documents from £136
Business documents from £156

Mobile notary services

Starting from £136
+ Travel fees: £25 per mile

Remote video notarisation

Starting from £136

E-notarisations

Starting from £136

Notarisation & apostille service

Starting from £210

Courier or postage charges

DHL UK from £20
Royal Mail from £12

Payment methods

Debit or credit card
Bank transfers
PayPal

Prices are listed per document; discounts may be available for multiple documents. Full payment is required before your appointment.

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How to prepare for your appointment

Before your appointment: To save time and avoid delays, please email clear scans of the following for each signer:

Document requiring notarisation
Valid passport
UK proof of address (issued within the past 3 months)

Appointment time: Standard appointments are about 20 minutes. If your documents are complex, please let us know in advance so we can schedule accordingly.

After your in-person appointment: If you attend the notary’s office in person, you can leave your documents at the notary’s office. We collect documents daily to be processed for legalisation.

Choose the notarisation service that works for you

In-person: Visit the London office for traditional notarisation.
Remote video: Secure notarisation from anywhere via video conferencing.
E-notarisation: Email your PDF or original document, we take care of the rest.
Mobile notary: We come to you – home, office, or other convenient location in London.
Weekend/out-of-hours: Evening and weekend appointments available for urgent needs.

Fast-track notarisation and document delivery

Same-day notarisation available with advance booking. Contact us before 10 am for afternoon appointments.

Next-day apostille is our most popular service. Documents submitted by 9 am are ready by 3:30 pm the next working day.

Delivery options:

Westminster office collection (free)
Royal Mail tracked (UK)
DHL next-day (UK)
DHL Europe
DHL worldwide
London bike courier
Royal Mail or Airmail

We email PDF scans at no extra charge.

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Why clients trust us

Here’s what sets our notary and legalisation service apart:

Qualified partners: All our notaries are regulated by the Faculty Office, hold current practising certificates, and are registered with the FCDO.
FCDO-registered agent: Daily submissions since 2010. Over 10,000 documents processed with priority access to express services.
Acceptance guarantee: If the FCDO rejects your document due to our handling error, we refund our entire service fee.
Transparent pricing: Fixed quotes before booking. No hidden admin charges or surprise invoices.
Fast response: Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Online support until 7pm. Queries answered within two hours.
405+ five-star Google reviews: Clients consistently mention speed, clarity, and reliability.

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FAQs

What is a notary public?

A notary public is a qualified lawyer regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. They authenticate documents for international use by verifying identities, witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and certifying copies.

Their stamp is recognised worldwide, making documents eligible for apostilles. There are roughly 770 practising notaries in England and Wales.

What’s the difference between a notary and a solicitor?

Solicitors handle UK legal matters, give advice, and can certify some documents. Notaries specialise in international authentication. Both certifications are acceptable to the FCDO for apostilles, but many embassies require a notary’s stamp specifically.

Use a solicitor for UK matters, a notary for international document authentication.

How long does the full notary and apostille process take?

Notarisation takes 15 to 30 minutes. FCDO apostille via express service: one to two working days. Embassy attestation (non-Hague countries): eight to 15 working days typically.

Total for Hague countries: two to 20 working days.
Total for non-Hague countries: two to six weeks standard, eight to 15 days express.

Does the notary draft documents?

While there are some exceptions, UK notaries public generally should not draft legal documents for clients.

Here’s why:

Maintaining impartiality: Notaries are required to be impartial witnesses when signing documents. Drafting a document creates a potential conflict of interest, as the notary could be perceived as advocating for a particular party.

Preventing unauthorised practice of law: Drafting complex legal documents requires specialised legal knowledge and training that notaries may not possess. Providing legal advice without proper qualifications is considered an unauthorised practice of law, which is illegal in the UK.

Protecting the client: It’s in the client’s best interest to have legal documents professionally drafted by a qualified solicitor who can ensure the document accurately reflects their intent and protects their interests.

Exceptions

There are limited situations where a UK notary might assist with document preparation:

Simple documents: Notaries may help draft simple documents with standardised forms and little need for legal interpretation (e.g., some affidavits and statutory declarations).

Translation: If a notary is fluent in multiple languages, they may help translate existing documents but not provide legal advice on their content.

Recommendation

We recommend consulting a solicitor to draft complex or legally sensitive documents. Notaries can notarise these documents, but their role is to verify signatures and ensure proper execution, not to provide legal counsel.

Can a document be bilingual?

Yes, a document can be bilingual to be notarised in the UK.

However, there are a few essential considerations to ensure the process goes smoothly:

Notary’s competence: While the notary may not necessarily need to be fluent in both languages of a bilingual document, they must be able to ensure the document’s validity for notarisation. This can be achieved through:

Client-provided verification: The client can provide a verified translation of the document by a qualified and recognised translator. The notary can then rely on this verified translation to understand the nature of the document and the signer’s intent.

Notary-appointed verification: Some notary practices may have established relationships with qualified translators. In such cases, the notary might work with the translator to verify the document and ensure its suitability for notarisation.

Key Points:

The notary’s primary concern is witnessing signatures and ensuring the document is executed correctly. Understanding the full legal nuances of the document may not be strictly required.

However, the notary must verify the document’s content and the signers’ comprehension, which can be achieved through verified translations.

Additional considerations:

If the document is intended for use in a foreign country, that country’s laws might have specific requirements regarding bilingual papers and translations. It’s always best to check the particular requirements with the relevant authorities.

Can a document be notarised if I’m overseas?

Yes, through remote video notarisation. You’ll join a video call to sign the document under the notary’s supervision, then post the original for their stamp.

Not all countries accept remote notarisation, and we can verify this for you. Oaths and affidavits require physical presence and cannot be done remotely under English law.

What is your cancellation policy?

Once an appointment has been confirmed, please ensure you can keep to the agreed time.

We understand that unexpected things come up, and we’re flexible when possible! However, to ensure everyone gets the needed time, we kindly ask that you reschedule appointments at least 24 hours in advance.

If you miss or cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours’ notice, a fee of £96 may apply. This helps us cover the reserved time and assist other clients in need.

Of course, if something unavoidable prevents you from making it, please let us know as soon as possible. We’re happy to reschedule your appointment for a time that works better for you.