As a notary public I am a member of the oldest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales

The notarial profession is the smallest (fewer than 800 notaries) but oldest legal profession in England and Wales, and it is possible to trace its roots to Roman times. Until 1535, it was the Pope who granted licences to notaries in England and Wales. After the break with Rome (Henry VIII), licences were granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Today the notarial profession is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and it is the Archbishop who continues to grant licences, known as faculties. Before I was granted my faculty, I was required to swear allegiance to the Crown and to swear a notarial oath to the effect that I will not make or attest any document which might involve violence or fraud. The text of the notarial oath is prescribed by the Public Notaries Act 1843: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

As a general notary, more commonly known as a notary public, I am entitled to practise anywhere within England and Wales, although you are most likely to find me in my home territory of mid-Essex, visiting Chelmsford, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers and other parts of this beautiful county. Notaries are important because documents signed and sealed by a notary receive international recognition and acceptance. I have an identifiable seal which is individual to me (I designed it myself and I am always happy to explain the significance of its various elements); when that seal is affixed to a document alongside my signature, it is recognised as valid more or less anywhere in the world.

The receiving jurisdiction can be assured that a notarial document is signed by the person they say they are, that the person has the authority and capacity to sign and that the person signing understands the meaning and effect of the document. The notary must check all these things - see What to Expect to understand what this looks like in practice when you instruct me.

Once notarised, some documents in some jurisdictions require an apostille to be appended to the document. This is an additional certificate added by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with whom I am registered, and its purpose is to confirm that the notary is indeed a notary.  Where a country is not a party to the Hague Convention, it will most likely also require authentication by the appropriate embassy. For further information, see What to Expect.

Every notary in England and Wales is required each year to apply and pay for a practising certificate from the Faculty Office. A practising certificate is only issued on evidence that the notary holds professional indemnity and fidelity insurance, and with confirmation of continuing professional education.