Two of our partners, Stephen Thirsk and Gerry Smith, are Notaries Public. In addition, one of our solicitors, Jason Winton, is studying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Notarial Practice at the University of Cambridge. This is the academic qualification required in order to become a Notary.

The services of a notary are often required when documents are signed in this country for use out of the jurisdiction. For example when buying a property in Spain, the Spanish Attorney will normally prepare a Power of Attorney that the buyer signs, and if signed in this country such is done in the presence of a Notary. It is then accepted as evidence in Spain.

In addition to being notarised, certain documents may also need to be legalised to enable them to be used abroad. This is undertaken either at the Embassy of the receiving country in England, or alternatively by means of a "apostille" affixed by the United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office. A notary is able to organise this in addition to his own services.

Stephen Thirsk provides notarial services at our Woodford office at 445 High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 OXE - Telephone 020 8505 4777 - E-mail woodford@whiskers.co.uk, and on special appointment at Harlow.

Gerry Smith provides the services at our Epping office at 265 High Street, Epping, Essex CM16 4BL - Telephone 01992 561111 - E-mail gerry.smith@whiskers.co.uk.

Charges vary according to the type of transaction undertaken and prices are available on application. When you attend before the notary you will need to prove your identity and current place of address. This is normally satisfied by bringing a current passport to the meeting and a recent utilty account.

Attending to the notarial act can take some time and a prior appointment is always necessary.