Notary Public Legalisation
Legalisation is a term often used to describe the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a UK public document is genuine. This signature and seal will often be the signature and seal of a Notary Public London. Legalisation is a step which is often required by foreign authorities before they will allow a document to be used for official purposes in their country. The authentication of the document is often undertaken by a Notary Public or other public official. Therefore the process of Legalisation does not certify the authenticity of a document or give approval of its content. The legalisation process is an activity which can be completed by the Notary client or the Notary Public London practice. Most businesses prefer for this process to be managed by their Notary Public practice in London who are experienced at managing the legalisation of documents on a daily basis.
Apostille Legalisation
“Apostille”, “Apostilled”, “Apostillied”, “Apostille Legalisation” and “Apostille Certificates” are all terms which are used to UK and international lawyer and which understandably people do not always understand. As a Notary Public London office we are contacted on a daily basis by Notaries clients who have been told to obtain an Apostille from a Notary Public but are uncertain as to the process or the cost. We have run a series of articles to explain this often misunderstood concept and set out below a summary overview.
What is an Apostille certificate?
An Apostille is a legalisation certificate which verifies that the signature, seal or stamp on a public document is genuine. Often these documents have first been Notarised by a London Notary Public. The certificate, which is added by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, is attached to a legal or other public document it enable such document to be recognised in forign countries without the need for further legalisation by Embassies or Consulates.
Why do some countries accept Apostille while others do not?
The requirement for Apostille certificates was created by the Hague Convention of 1965. Members of the Hague Convention agree on rules to ensure that all member states deal with certain matters in the same way. In Jan 1965 they agreed that certain documents for use in foreign countries could forgo the need for further legalisation if they had an Apostille certificate attached. Essentially, it streamlines the process of recognising foreign document making the whole process more efficient.
How quickly can you obtain an Apostille Certificate?
As a Notary Public London Office we are registered with the Foreign and Commonwealth’s premium service which means that we can get an Apostille in the same day. For a cheaper solution we also offer legalisation services over 4 working days. Please ensure you contact our Notaries Public Office to understand the cut off times to lodge notarised documents with the FCO.
Worldwide Guide to Legalisation – Notary Public London Guide
The legalisation requires for each country differs and therefore we have put together a summary guide for our Notary clients. If you have any questions about legalisation requirements for any country please do not hesitate to contact our notary team.
As a Notary Public London office we provide legalisation services for all of our Notary Public clients. This provides our notary clients with a cost and time effective legalisation solution.