Notary guides
Straightforward answers on notary fees, apostilles and legalisation, powers of attorney, and preparing documents for use overseas.
In a hurry? Our notary FAQs give the short version of the questions below.
Costs and process
How much does a notary public cost in the UK?
Notary fees are based on time and complexity, not a fixed price list. Here is how the cost breaks down and what pushes it up or down.
Choosing the right service
Notary public vs solicitor - what is the difference?
Both are qualified lawyers, but only a notary is set up to authenticate documents for use in other countries. When each one is the right choice.
Do I need a notary public?
A situation-by-situation checklist. If your document is going abroad, the answer is usually yes - here is why, and what happens next.
Legalisation and apostilles
What is an apostille and how do you get one?
An apostille is the FCDO certificate that makes a UK document usable abroad. When you need one, when you need embassy legalisation instead, and how the process works.
Notarising documents for use abroad - the process
The route from a UK document to one a foreign authority will accept: notarise, apostille, and embassy legalisation where needed. What changes by document type and country.