Services of Notary Public

As solicitors in New South Wales, our firm is pleased to offer notary public services to individuals and businesses. Notarial services are often required for legal documents that need to be used overseas or for transactions or legal proceedings that involve parties in different countries. In conjunction, we draw to your attention that, our office has Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Hindi and Urdu speakers.

What does a Notary Public do?

The role of a notary public is to provide a range of legal services related to the certification and authentication of documents. This can include verifying the identity of signatories, witnessing signatures, and certifying copied documents as true and accurate copies of the original documents.

In New South Wales, notaries public are appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW and are subject to strict regulations and standards of professional conduct. To qualify as a notary public, individuals must be experienced senior legal practitioners.

Once appointed, notaries are issued with an official ‘seal’ with the notary’s name and jurisdiction. The seal is used to notarise documents, and the details of notaries are stored in a database held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

When Might I Need a Notary Public?

One of the most common reasons for requiring notarial services is for the certification of documents for use overseas. Many countries require documents such as powers of attorney, contracts, and affidavits to be notarised before they can be used in legal proceedings or transactions. As public notaries, we are authorised to certify these documents and provide the necessary authentication to ensure they are legally valid in the relevant jurisdiction.

Another important service provided by notaries public is the witnessing of signatures. When parties are located in different countries, it may be necessary for a notary public to witness signatures on documents such as contracts or deeds. In these cases, the notary public can act as an impartial witness, ensuring that the signatory is properly identified and that the signature is valid.

In addition to these services, notaries public can also assist with the certification of academic transcripts, diplomas, and other educational documents. This is particularly important for students or professionals who need to have their qualifications recognised in another country.

Before Your Appointment

We understand that notarial services can be time-sensitive and so we provide efficient, quality services.

Before attending a notary public, please consider the following: 

• Book your appointment in advance and provide as much information as possible about the services you need so sufficient time can be allocated for your appointment. 
• If documents are to be used overseas, confirm the specific requirements of the relevant overseas institution beforehand. 
• A scale of Recommended Fees is viewable online on the website of Society of Notaries of New South Wales at www.notarynsw.org.au. A realistic price estimate for the services will be provided at your appointment based on the scale. 
• Check that you have all the documents required and have them in order. 
• If you are having documents witnessed, do not pre-sign anything – notaries must watch you sign documents in their presence. 
• You will need to bring verification of identity – i.e., original passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence showing your current address. 
• If a document is not in English, we might require a translation to be obtained before processing the document.  

For quality legal and notary public services, contact [email protected] or call 02 88660188.