Notary Public Services

A Notary is a qualified legal practitioner; many notaries are also solicitors but not all of them. The notarial profession is the third and oldest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales, with Dickinson Parker Hill having a long-established track record in providing notary public solicitor services to clients in Ormskirk, Liverpool and Lancashire.

What does a Notary Public do?

A notary solicitor can authenticate or legalise any document for use in another jurisdiction. For example, if you are buying a property in Spain, you might need to execute a power of attorney to enable your Spanish lawyer to complete the purchase for you. This power of attorney may need to be signed in the presence of a Notary, who can witness your signature and can ensure that correct formalities are observed, allowing the legal process to move forward effectively.

The need for a Notary to be involved will be dictated by the requirements of the country where the document is to be used. Here at Dickinson Parker Hill, Michael Prendergast can provide expert notarial services to private individuals and company clients, either on a one-off or ongoing basis, depending on your notary public service needs. He is happy to speak to you about all of your notarial service requirements and help you to determine the ideal legal steps to take.

Why do you need the services of a Notary Public?

There are a range of different situations where you may require a notary public solicitor, with key areas including:

• You will need a Notary Public if the document in question needs to be sent outside of the UK. Notaries are recognised internationally in this regard, authorised to pass on documentation to the relevant legal parties in the destination country. A fully qualified notary public solicitor will ensure your legal requirements are met with minimal complication.
• You are likely to have been asked by your lawyer or an organisation abroad to sign or authenticate a document in the presence of a notary public solicitor. They will expect to see the notary’s signature, stamp and seal.

Michael Prendergast is a Notary Public and provides a range of trusted notary services. He is based in Ormskirk, but provides his legal expertise as a notary public solicitor to cover a wide geographical area including Wigan, Skelmersdale, Formby, Burscough, Southport, Liverpool and other areas across Lancashire, Merseyside and the UK.

He is appointed as a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury and is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. All of the Notary Public services he provides are fully authorised and he is able to assess your current situation and advise you on your recommended legal options going forward.

Seeing a Notary

Each client’s circumstances are different, but generally speaking the procedure for seeing our Notary Public here at Dickinson Parker Hill will initially involve:

• The client contacting Michael Prendergast to make an initial appointment. If possible, you should also email a copy of the document to be notarised prior to the appointment so he can review it, this can help save a lot of time.
• At the initial meeting, you will need to bring evidence of your identity and residential address. Usually this will be your current valid passport and a recent utility bill (issued within the last 3 months) bearing your name and address. You will also need to bring with you any paperwork from lawyers in the country where the document is to be used.

What does it cost?

This really depends on what the Notary Public is required to do.

• In most cases Michael Prendergast will be able to provide you with his notary public services at a fixed fee for the work that is required and confirm the cost of any disbursements (apostille fees for example).
• In more complex matters, the charging rate may be on the basis of Michael Prendergast’s hourly rate. An estimate can be given in these circumstances, but if any of the legal matters required become more complex, then this may need to be revised during the course of your instructions. More specific details can be offered during your discussion.

As an experienced notary public solicitor for clients in Ormskirk, Liverpool and across Lancashire, Michael Prendergast will be well equipped to advise on any legal process related to notarial services. Please contact Michael Prendergast for further information about the likely costs of any of the aforementioned notarial services you may require.

What next?

We understand that you may have specific questions with regards to the notarial services you are in need of, and how our public notary solicitor may be able to provide legal assistance in this area. You’re welcome to contact us here at Dickinson Parker Hill by phone or email to speak to Michael Prendergast, or another member of our legal team who will be able to advise on the relevant legal steps.

You can also visit the website of Michael Prendergast, Notary Public by clicking here.

Appointments are normally at the offices of Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors at 22 Derby Street, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 2BZ during office hours (9am to 5pm) though appointments outside of these offices (at your home or business premises) can be arranged and out of hours appointments can also be arranged when necessary.

Useful Links

The following websites have more information about the role of a Notary Public and the procedure for notarising a document:

The Notaries Society

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

The Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Looking for help with Agricultural and or Rural matters? Visit our Agricultural Service page to see how we can help.