Notaries Public

[tim]

I need to get a bunch of documents notarised for my immigration to Canada. Can someone (jake?) let me know whether any solicitor is able to act as a notary public or do I have to use a member of the Notaries society.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Jake]

It is a separate (but often additional) qualification, so they are frequently solictors as well, but not any old common or garden solicitor like wot I am. I don't know if they have to be a member of that specific organisation. I'd try Yellow Pages and select on price and a guaranteed turn-around time, 'cos it isn't rocket science.

 

[tim]

Thanks Jake

 

[Taffy Turner]

Tim,

One point worth checking is whether the documents need to be legalised by the Canadian embassy.

I got caught out on that one when applying for a US tax identification number.

I paid £50 to have set of documents notarised, and duly sent them off, only to be refused as they hadn't been legalised, so I had to start again, and this time it cost me £50 plus another £20 for legalisation.

If in doubt, I would get them legalised anyway to be on the safe side.

Regards

Gary

PS - it is worth shopping around, as I was quoted prices from £50 up to £120!!! :shock:

 

[tim]

Tim,

One point worth checking is whether the documents need to be legalised by the Canadian embassy.

I got caught out on that one when applying for a US tax identification number.

I paid £50 to have set of documents notarised, and duly sent them off, only to be refused as they hadn't been legalised, so I had to start again, and this time it cost me £50 plus another £20 for legalisation.

If in doubt, I would get them legalised anyway to be on the safe side.

Regards

Gary

PS - it is worth shopping around, as I was quoted prices from £50 up to £120!!! :shock:

Thanks - I'll check it out. The lawyers in Canada haven't mentioned it but I'll check with them.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Taffy Turner]

Tim,

It's as wise to check, as over there getting something notarised is very common indeed, and most banks have a notary public who will do it while you wait for about $10.

The difficulty arises is it is an overseas notary doing the notarising, as more nearly always it will require countersigning by the relevant embassy.

All the best.

Gary

 

[White House Workshop]

Definitely use the embassy if you can - far cheaper than UK notaries and you know they'll accept it! We use the US embassy services when we need to, and they charge (I think) $25 - a bit less than £50 and up. Of course you have to get there and queue, too.....

 

[tim]

I just had a reply from the lawyers in Canada who say that a Uk notarised document should be fine. I imagine its partly to do with Commonwelath stuff?

Thanks for the thoughts though - the High Commission is in London so a fair trek from me and would definitely offset any cost saving.

Cheers

Tim

 

[bjm]

Notary Publics are a special service here and the one I went to see last year for advice was charging the national going rate - £180/hr and he charges per 20 min (£60 min fee). I haven't used him yet but his advise was to make sure I had everything ready the first time - he was happy to do as much work as I wanted but I'd end up paying for the privilege!

Brian

 

[Chris Knight]

- £180/hr and he charges per 20 min (£60 min fee).

That seems like barefaced robbery!

In the USA and apparently Canada they seem to want all sorts of stuff notarised that is unnecessary here. I once bought a condo in the USA and then understood that it was very easy for them - about half the secretaries in the Estate agent's office were notaries - one just pulled out her stamp etc and notarised my signature and that was that.

 

[Pecker]

- £180/hr and he charges per 20 min (£60 min fee).

That seems like barefaced robbery!

In the USA and apparently Canada they seem to want all sorts of stuff notarised that is unnecessary here. I once bought a condo in the USA and then understood that it was very easy for them - about half the secretaries in the Estate agent's office were notaries - one just pulled out her stamp etc and notarised my signature and that was that.

my employees girlfriend in the States, has just done a public notary course. I think it was half a day. Anyone can basicaly do it, then charge about $20 to witness/sign things.

Seems a bit daft to me, but still....
woody

 

[White House Workshop]

my employees girlfriend in the States, has just done a public notary course. I think it was half a day. Anyone can basicaly do it, then charge about $20 to witness/sign things.

Seems a bit daft to me, but still....
woody

Anyone with a bank account in the US can get anything notarised for free at their bank. All part of the service (yes, they still know what word means over there).