Notary Public

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Notary Public

Why (or when) would someone need a notary public solicitor?

If you need to sign a legal document or have a document authenticated or certified for abroad. For example:

  • Powers of attorney for abroad
  • Sales or purchases of land abroad
  • Documents for the administration of estates of someone abroad
  • Foreign marriages, adoptions
  • Children travelling with only one parent or someone not a parent
  • Certifying documents for emigration purposes or to practise your job or profession abroad e.g. degree certificates

How does the process work/what are the steps with a notary public solicitor?

You bring your document(s) and sign it/them in the presence of the notary public solicitor who verifies your identity from your passport and your address (from bank statements, utility bills, driving licence etc) and the notary signs, stamps, and seals, so that your document will be accepted abroad.

How long does it take?

The notary public solicitor is available usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you can see her with an appointment which can usually be made even on the day. The typical appointment is between 20 minutes and half an hour.

You can take your document(s) away with you afterwards, unless the notary public solicitor has to verify something with third parties (e.g. degree certificates with the university concerned) or send your document for legalisation (verification of the notary’s signature and seal by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office by an apostille or by the consulate of the country concerned).

Is it expensive to use a notary public solicitor?

If there aren’t too many documents and it can be dealt with in under half an hour the charge is £150 (or £100 if it is very simple, one or two notary signatures only and can be dealt with in under 20 minutes).

If there are a lot of notary signatures, or verification from others is required or the notary public solicitor has to prepare a document for you or send it for legalisation for you, the notary will tell you how much it will be. This will be based on her estimate of the time it should take. Her hourly rate is £300.

What are the things people should consider before calling a notary public solicitor?

You need to make an appointment so the notary will be available and tell you what to bring, please do not attend our offices without a prior appointment and expect to be seen. Please contact us via email notary@grantsaw.co.uk.

Tell the notary public solicitor if the document is being signed for a company as checks may need to be done in advance of the company.

Don’t sign your document(s) in advance

If there are any mistakes on the document, check what to do with whoever sent it to you, or if there is anything you don’t understand before you come.

If it is an Affidavit, check the lawyer has sent you all the exhibits (these are the documents that the Affidavit refers to in this way: “there is now produced to me and marked”…)

If you need a translation notarised, you need to tell the translator before you get it translated as they, not you, are the ones who need to bring the translation to a notary public solicitor and they may want to use a notary convenient to them. If your document is not in English, check you understand it by asking the person who gave it to you for a translation.

UK births, marriages, and death certificates cannot be copied and the copies certified by a notary public solicitor. You need to get the official copies and use these. You can get extra copies from the General Registry Office online. https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Why are Grant Saw the best people for the job with a notary public solicitor?

Joanna Godden is a specially trained lawyer who is a notary public solicitor. Not every solicitor is a notary public. Her signature and seal are on record with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and many consulates.

She also speaks Spanish and French and can deal with documents in these languages though cannot usually prepare legal documents in these languages.

Your document may also need additional witnesses and our office can provide this.

Notarial services are provided by Joanna Godden. As a Notary, Joanna is independent from Grant Saw Solicitors LLP. Joanna carries her own professional indemnity insurance up to £1m and fidelity insurance up to £1m. She is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The work is covered by a separate formal complaints procedure and you will be given details.

Meet the Notary Public team
Ray Crudgington
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
greenwich
02083054224
ray.crudgington@grantsaw.co.uk
Maria Lati
Maria Lati
Partner
Partner and Head of Residential Property
blackheath
02083054229
maria.lati@grantsaw.co.uk
Mike Clary
Family
Partner and Head of Family
greenwich
02083054237
mike.clary@grantsaw.co.uk
Kalpa Prajapati
Partner
Partner and Head of Private Client
blackheath
02083053536
kalpa.prajapati@grantsaw.co.uk
Mario Savvides
Commercial Property
Partner and Head of Commercial Property
greenwich
02083053531
mario.savvides@grantsaw.co.uk
Sarah-Kate Jackson
Litigation
Partner and Head of Litigation
greenwich
02083054236
sarah-kate.jackson@grantsaw.co.uk
Adina-Leigh Collins
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053556
adina-leigh.collins@grantsaw.co.uk
Aimal Gram
Commercial Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053524
aimal.gram@grantsaw.co.uk
Aisha Mohammed
Aisha Mohammed
Residential Property
Professional Support Lawyer
greenwich
02083054228
aisha.mohammed@grantsaw.co.uk
An Le Tran
Commercial Property
Professional Support Solicitor
greenwich
02083054226
anle.tran@grantsaw.co.uk
Ana-Maria Badeanu
Ana-Maria Badeanu
Corporate and Commercial
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053539
ana-maria.badeanu@grantsaw.co.uk
Angela Shaw
Angela Shaw
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054234
angela.shaw@grantsaw.co.uk
Angus Young
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054225
angus.young@grantsaw.co.uk
Atifha Aftab
Atifha Aftab
Family
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054238
atifha.aftab@grantsaw.co.uk
Bimal Kotecha
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053523
bimal.kotecha@grantsaw.co.uk
Charlotte Warren
Charlotte Warren
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054231
charlotte.warren@grantsaw.co.uk
Claire Mac Mahon
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053537
claire.macmahon@grantsaw.co.uk
Deborah Taite
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083053542
deborah.taite@grantsaw.co.uk
Emily Pearce
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053526
emily.pearce@grantsaw.co.uk
Georgia Beales
Litigation
Paralegal
greenwich
02083054206
georgia.beales@grantsaw.co.uk
Jeremy Brooks
Jeremy Brooks
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083053534
jeremy.brooks@grantsaw.co.uk
Joanna Godden
Notary Public
Notary
greenwich
02083083627
joanna.godden@grantsaw.co.uk
Lauren Smith
Employment
Paralegal
greenwich
02083053543
lauren.smith@grantsaw.co.uk
Mandeep Clair
Family
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054235
mandeep.clair@grantsaw.co.uk
Michael Pope
Corporate and Commercial
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053540
michael.pope@grantsaw.co.uk
Michelle Pinnington
Michelle Pinnington
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054216
michelle.pinnington@grantsaw.co.uk
Noella Gooden
Noella Gooden
Employment
Solicitor (Australian qualified)
greenwich
02083053543
noella.gooden@grantsaw.co.uk
Raj Waghela
Raj Waghela
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053529
raj.waghela@grantsaw.co.uk
Randeep Thethy
Randeep Thethy
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054209
randeep.thethy@grantsaw.co.uk
Sarah Hogan
Sarah Hogan
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054214
sarah.hogan@grantsaw.co.uk
Simona Morina
Simona Morina
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053521
simona.morina@grantsaw.co.uk
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Simone Gavioli
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053548
simone.gavioli@grantsaw.co.uk
Susan Collins
Commercial Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054200
susan.collins@grantsaw.co.uk
Tatiana Zenina
Tatiana Zenina
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054239
tatiana.zenina@grantsaw.co.uk
Trisha Djemal
Trisha Djemal
Residential Property
Consultant Solicitor
blackheath
02083053546
trisha.djemal@grantsaw.co.uk
Tyrone Grant
Residential Property
Head of Leasehold Enfranchisement
blackheath
02083053522
tyrone.grant@grantsaw.co.uk
Denise
Accounts Staff
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Helen Arney
Helen Arney
Support Staff
HR Manager
greenwich
02083054233
helen.arney@grantsaw.co.uk
Jamie
Support Staff
Head of IT
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Jayne Lye
Support Staff
Office Manager
greenwich
02083054204
jayne.lye@grantsaw.co.uk
Kasia
Accounts Staff
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Michael Tobin
Michael Tobin
Support Staff
Marketing and Business Development Manager
greenwich
02083053550
michael.tobin@grantsaw.co.uk
Laura Danquah
Solicitor and Compliance Manager
greenwich
02083054222
laura.danquah@grantsaw.co.uk
Sue Holness
Support Staff
Customer Services
greenwich
02083054221
sue.holness@grantsaw.co.uk