Notary Public Leeds

notary public in Leeds

Welcome to my website

If you require a Notary Public in Leeds please visit the contact page for more information.

I can offer evening and weekend appointments as well as appointments at your home or offices.

Click on a link below for more information about the services that I offer.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to our service. Our highly skilled notaries are independent lawyers authorised to officially act as impartial witnesses in the signing of your legal documents. Such documents commonly include affidavits, property deeds, wills, trusts and Power of Attorney to name a few.

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NOTARY SERVICES OFFERED

Generally, the bulk of our work deals with taking affidavits and statutory declarations, oaths, affirmations, and authenticating documents. Below is a sample of the services we provide:

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ORIGINS

Today, notaries are primarily used in the deterrence of fraud. However, they have an ancient and rich origin. The office of Notary is traced back to the Roman Empire where they evolved from being court officials who helped the judges, to taking over the judicial duties of authenticating documents with their own special seal. The use of an individual seal is still part of a notary’s manifesto.

After the Reformation and the split in the catholic Church, the Papal Office passed the appointment of notaries to the British monarch in 1533. The Crown mandates the Archbishop of Canterbury to oversee the appointment through the Court of Faculties in London.

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QUALIFYING AS A NOTARY

People often ask how you become a Notary. This is a good question. A degree in Law is a perfect starting point. If you refer to the Notaries (Qualification) Rules 2017, it provides that an applicant must be ‘of good character’. Also, requisites in the Act are that a Notary:
“is at least 21 years of age and has satisfied the requirements of these rules; and
Has taken the oath of allegiance and the oath required by Section 7 of the Public Notaries Act 1843; and
Is, except where such application is made under rule 4 (ecclesiastical notaries) or rule 8 either a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, or a barrister at law or a Chartered Legal Executive or holds a Degree”.

It is no surprise that most applicants are solicitors. Over 90% of notaries are practising solicitors. Legal professionals, or those with a recent qualifying law degree and Legal Practice Certificate (LPC), can apply for an Exemption from the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury from studying core legal subjects.  Applicants progress to study the Diploma in Notarial Practice. This is a two-year distance learning course that is currently offered by several institutions such as UCL, where students’ study both Private International Law and Roman Law in year one, and Notary Practice in the second year.

The professional body; The Notaries Society, states that “all newly appointed notaries shall, for the first two/three years after their appointment, have their practice as a notary supervised by another notary”. This is a reassuring policy that ensures all notaries meet the highest standards.

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FAQ

Will you provide a Notary or their contact details?

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

Why not make an enquiry today and we will answer your individual questions. We can also book an appointment on your behalf.

Is it Confidential? What about Data Protection?

I need a document translated. Do notaries do this?

What about companies or entities?

Can a solicitor notarise my documents?

What is Notary Authentication or Legislation?

So, what is an Apostille?

What is a Power of Attorney?

Do I have to attend a particular office? How long does it all take?

Can a Notary give legal advice?

How much does a Notary charge?

Please note you may need to pay other costs, such as translators. Contact us for a quotation.

Do the Bar Council or Law Society regulate notaries?

REGULATION OF NOTARIES

The Master of the Faculties within the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury holds the statutory power for regulating notaries. The Master is also the Dean of the Arches. Their power originally derives from the 200-year-old Public Notaries Act 1801, an Act introduced to statutorily oversee the regulation of notaries. The Act’s preamble then described it as “for the better Regulation of Public Notaries in England”. Today, the Legal Services Act 2007 and the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 oversee all regulation statutorily.
If you have a complaint please contact The Faculty Office at the Archbishop of Canterbury in London.

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