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When do I need notary?
A notary is required to independently witness and authenticate legal documents and transactions, in particular when they need to be submitted to authorities overseas.
Notarisation confirms the authenticity of signed documents, ensuring that they are fully compliant with the requirements in the relevant jurisdiction.
The certification by a notary can also be needed to confirm the authenticity of copied documents, such as passports or utility bills.
Don’t Sign Yet
For a Notary Public to notarize your signature, you must sign it in the physical presence of the Notary. Generally speaking, it is best to wait until the Notary tells you that you can sign, as you may need to swear an oath first, for example. The most common mistake we see is customers coming in with documents already signed. Usually, this is easily rectified. You simply sign the document again in front of the Notary. However, it is, of course, a little messy. And it may not be accepted in your particular circumstances. If you want to be sure, contact your counsel, or the organization that you are sending the document to, and ask. If possible, bring a spare copy, just in case.
International Documents
Many legal documents can be sworn, affirmed or declared before a Commissioner of Oaths, who need not be a Notary Public. If the document itself is going to be used outside the jurisdiction, especially internationally, you will likely need to swear or declare before a Notary. This is a practical result of the system used for confirming the execution of international documents. If in doubt, it is normally best to use a Notary, as that covers you, either way. Fortunately, we have them. Just give us a call, send us an email, or click the Book Online tab.
