Our experienced Notaries, Peter Hutt and Michelle Mann, are able to assist individuals, companies and other organisations with the authentication of documents for use overseas. They practice in Reading and throughout the Thames Valley in Berkshire.

Notaries are member of the oldest branch of the legal profession and appointed and regulated by the Faculty Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Notaries verify and certify provable facts under their signature and official seal for clients with business or property or court proceedings outside England and Wales.

Depending on the destination country and nature of the document to be signed, the involvement of a Notary may be required.

The need for "notarisation" is often overlooked until the last minute.

We suggest the following as a guide:

• Speak to a Notary as soon as possible.
• Be ready to provide the Notary with:
  • A copy of the document and any covering letter from the person who prepared the document to be notarised.
  • If a company, your company name and number (for a company search).
• When you meet the Notary, have available:
  • Passport and a utility bill showing the residential address of each person signing the document.
  • If a company you will need:
    • Memorandum and Articles of Association
    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Board Resolution appointing the signing officers
    • Board Resolution authorising the company to complete the document / transaction and the chosen signing officers to sign the document.

Our Notary will be happy to deal with enquiries and advise on how a document should be executed and what formalities need to be completed. He will need to be satisfied that you understand any document, particularly a document which is not in English.

It is important that you speak to a Notary as early as possible as some countries require more than just a notary's signature and seal. Further authentication from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or applicable Consulate may be required.