Welcome to Notary Public Mark Barnett

I offer the services of a Notary Public in a commercial and efficient manner.

Drawing on my long and varied experience as a Notary, I focus on understanding exactly what the client wants to achieve. In some cases, I will also guide the client on specific questions to ask the other party, ensuring his instructions are clear to try and avoid any unnecessary delays.

Once I have reviewed the draft documents and clarified the requirements, I will generally be able to provide a fixed-fee quote for dealing with the matter.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about what I as a Notary offer. Please contact me to arrange an appointment.

• What is a Notary Public?
• What does a Notary Public do?
• What services do Notary Publics offer?
• When might I need a Notary Public?
• What identification (ID) must clients bring to a Notary appointment?
• Notarisation – how much does it cost?
• Complaints
• Terms of business

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary Public (also called a Public Notary or Notary) is a qualified lawyer appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury. They act as a public officer specialising in authenticating, witnessing, and certifying documents for use overseas. Their role ensures documents are genuine, properly executed, and acceptable to foreign authorities, governments, or institutions.

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What does a Notary Public do?

Notaries verify the identity and capacity of signatories, witness signatures, certify that documents are true copies or authentic, and confirm details such as a company’s legal status or good standing. They also prepare notarial acts or certificates that attach to or authenticate documents. This helps prevent fraud and ensures documents are legally recognised abroad.

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What services do Notary Publics offer?

My services as a Notary include the following:

• Witnessing and certifying signatures on documents such as contracts, deeds, and agreements.
• Preparing and authenticating Powers of Attorney for use overseas.
• Certifying true copies of passports, driving licences, birth, marriage, death, or divorce certificates.
• Authenticating educational qualifications, degrees, diplomas, and professional certificates.
• Preparing and certifying affidavits and statutory declarations.
• Authenticating company documents including board resolutions, minutes, and articles of association.
• Providing certificates of good standing or incorporation for UK companies.
• Certifying the identity and authority of company directors or officers.
• Handling documents for the purchase, sale, or transfer of land and property abroad.
• Dealing with documents relating to foreign wills, probate, and estate administration.
• Authenticating documents for immigration, emigration, visas, or work permits abroad.
• Preparing declarations of freedom to marry (capacity to marry) or single status certificates.
• Certifying consent forms, including child travel consents and parental consents.
• Authenticating documents for opening bank accounts or financial matters overseas.
• Noting and protesting bills of exchange (for commercial disputes).
• Administering oaths and taking declarations.
• Certifying translations of documents.
• Assisting with apostille applications through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
• Providing notarial acts for international business transactions or forming overseas subsidiaries.
• Authenticating shipping or maritime documents (e.g., protests related to ships and cargoes).
• Handling legalisation and supporting documentation for foreign embassies or authorities.
• Offering mobile or remote notarisation services (where available and appropriate).

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When might I need a Notary Public?

You typically need a notary for documents intended for use outside the UK, such as buying/selling property abroad, applying for a foreign visa or work permit, handling probate or inheritance matters overseas, executing powers of attorney, or dealing with international business transactions. Many foreign authorities require notarised documents to accept UK-originated paperwork.

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What identification (ID) must clients bring to a Notary appointment?

To comply with the relevant anti-money laundering regulations a Notary must confirm the identity of the appearer before being able to proceed with the Notarisation itself. When attending an appointment with a Notary, each person signing the document must provide at least one of the following:-

• A valid passport
• Driving licence with photo ID card
• National identity card (only for EEA state members)
• Armed forces pass (with photo and signature)
• Firearms licence (with photo and signature)
• Any other official government issue ID card (with photo and signature)
• Residence permit (where relevant)

They must also provideseparateproof of address by producing the original one of the following, from within the last 3 months containing their name and current residential address :-

• A bank statement or letter from bank
• A utility bill or council tax bill (not a mobile phone bill)
• A Tenancy agreement or Housing Association rent card for your current address
• An Inland Revenue tax demand or self assessment statement

If acting on behalf of a Company or other legal entity, evidence must also be produced evidence of the due incorporation of that entity. This may be one of the following documents although this will be confirmed at the time by the Notary :-

• Certificate of Good Standing
• Up to date printout from official registry
• Certificate of incorporation
• Latest report and audited accounts
• Up to date certified copy of partnership agreement
• Evidence of being regulated by a regulatory body such as the Law Society or FSA.

In addition to the above, each signatory will also need to produce one of the identification and proof of address documents mentioned above.

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Notarisation – how much does it cost?

The cost will depend on the number of documents you require Notarising, as well as a number of other factors including whether the document also needs to be Apostilled and /or legalised and if so whether on an urgent or non-urgent basis .

Please contact me for a formal quote although I may need to see scanned copies of the documents concerned before being able to provide one.

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Complaints

If you have a complaint you can see a copy of my formal complaints procedure here.

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Terms of business

My full terms of business can be seen here.

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