Certified / notarised copy documents

A certified or notarised copy document is a copy of a document that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a Notary Public.

In the event that you need to provide identification such as a passport or driving licence, or certificates such as GSCE, A Level, Degree, TEFL or other qualifications and any other documentation that you will only have one original copy, you can often provide a notarised copy to avoid having to hand over the original.

You may need a certified or notarised document for personal or commercial reasons. For documents that are to be used outside of the United Kingdom, it is very likely that they will need to be certified by a Notary Public to be accepted in the country where is is to be used.

As part of the notarisation process, the notary will verify the authenticity of the document. The notary will also need to verify the identity of the person producing the document to them.

The purpose of notarisation is so that the recipient in the foreign country who is requesting the document can trust the document without themselves having to make further checks as to its authenticity.

If the document is intended for use in a non-English speaking country, a translation of the certificate may need to accompany it for use. I can assist with obtaining translations of documents where needed.

After the document is notarised, it may also need an Apostille and Consular Legalisation, depending on whether its destination country is signed up to the Hague Apostille Convention. The Apostille/ Consular Legalisation will allow the foreign country to accept the document as a validly notarised document. Failure to obtain it when needed may mean your document will be rejected for use. I will be able to advise as to the legalisation required and can arrange this for you if required.

If you need a Notary Public to certify copies of documents for use, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Please contact me on 01244 470339 or at sara@notarychester.co.uk and I will be happy to provide you with a quote and arrange an appointment. I will usually ask you to email a copy of the document and any instructions that you have been given so that I can provide you with a fixed fee quote.

To see my office locations and the areas that I cover, please see the Locations page.