Notarise Documents
Notarisation is the act of authentication of documents for overseas use.
At Company Notary, we verify and authenticate the execution or content of a broad range of documents for business and individuals with assets or activities abroad. For the purposes of authentication, many foreign countries require documentation to be notarised and legalised before they can be used, officially recorded or before they can have any legal effect.
To check if you need notarial services for your paperwork see the types of notarised documents.
Do You Need Notarisation?
Different countries have different legislation. This drives the need for a reliable “reference point” for documents originating from one country, but being used in another.
A notary is usually required to put an international document ‘beyond proof’. This means that, with the notary affixing his/her signature and seal to a document, it will be acceptable in the receiving country. Sometimes further authentication of the notary is required – please read more about legalisation, use our free notary wizard for instant guidance or contact us for professional assistance.
The Notary Checks:
- identity of the signatories
- capacity and full legal understanding
- authority to sign
- company existence and ability to enter into the document.
We also advise on any further steps required for your documents.
Notarial Certificate
What happens next? Once checked, the notary public affixes a notarial certificate to the document which confirms its execution or validity. A register (or protocol) of the notarial acts performed is maintained.
Notary Seal
How do you know if the documents you are handling have been notarised? You should look for the notary seal (commonly known as a notary stamp) – an official stamp or embosser used by a notary to seal authorised documents. As the physical evidence of a document being certified by a notary, the notarial seal must be kept under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public.
The term “notary seal” originates from when official documents used to be sealed with wax and then stamped. In modern times an ink stamp placed on the document is used to certify its authenticity.