MD Pryke Notary Public

This is the second article in a series that details the Apostille process.

Article 1 dealt with: The need for an Apostille Certificate, What a typical Apostille Certificate looks like, which countries accept them and the information they include.

Are all Apostille certificates the same?

No.  Although Apostille certificates were introduced by the Hague Convention of January 1965 to provide a standardised set of rules governing legalisation between member states, there are certain exceptions.

As of July 2010 the Legalisation office in Milton Keynes declares that all Apostilles issued for use in Russian child adoption cases must now be square as indicated below.

Square Apostille Certificate

For further information on the new Apostille Certificates pertaining to Russian child adoption cases, please contact London Notary Public Matthew Pryke through the usual channels.

States that accept the official apostille certificate

The Hague Convention of Jan 1965 decreed that some documents used in foreign states would no longer require further legalisation provided that they had an Apostille certificate attached.  Some countries, however, will still require further legalisation such as China and India amongst others.

This is the second in a series of free articles from MD Pryke Notary Public LLP detailing all aspects of the Apostille process.

Article 1 entitled ‘Apostilles – a brief guide’ dealt with: The need for an Apostille Certificate, the information contained on an Apostille Certificate, and why some countries do not accept them.

Apostille Certificates are accepted by the following states at the time of publishing.

Countries not listed below may still accept an Apostille but often require further legalisation.

A

Albania Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Austria Australia Azerbaijan

B
Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bosnia Botswana Brunei Bulgaria

C

China Colombia Cook Islands Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic

D
Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic

E
Ecuador El Salvador Estonia

F
Fiji Finland France

G
Georgia Germany Greece Grenada

H
Honduras Hong Kong Hungary

I
Iceland India Ireland Israel Italy

J
Japan

K
Kazakhstan Korea

L
Latvia Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg

M
Malawi Macedonia Malta Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Monaco Moldova Mongolia Montenegro

N
Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Norway

P
Panama Poland Portugal

R
Romania Russian Federation

S
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Serbia Seychelles Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Swaziland Sweden Switzerland

T
Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey

U
Ukraine United Kingdom USA

V
Vanuatu Venezuela

For further information on any aspect of the Apostille process, please contact MD Pryke Notary Public LLP on 0207 636 4422.  Apostille Certificates form a central part of our London Notary service and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

“Apostille” is a term many people find puzzling.  At M D Pryke Notary Public LLP we are often contacted by clients who have been told to obtain an Apostille from a Notary Public but are uncertain what this entails.  This is the first article of series to explain all aspects of the Apostille process.

What is an Apostille certificate?

An Apostille is a legalisation certificate which verifies that the signature, seal or stamp on a public document is genuine.  It is attached to documents so that they will be recognised in member states without the need for further legalisation by Embassies or Consulates.

Why do some countries accept Apostille certificates while others don’t?

The requirement for Apostille certificates was created by the Hague Convention of 1965.  Members of the Hague Convention agree on rules to ensure that all member states deal with certain matters in the same way.  In Jan 1965 they agreed that certain documents for use in foreign countries could forgo the need for further legalisation if they had an Apostille certificate attached.  Essentially, it streamlines the process of recognising foreign document making the whole process more efficient.

What does an Apostille look like?

Apostille

What information is included on an Apostille?

As detailed on the above example an Apostille contains the following information:

1. The country where it was first issued

2. The name of the signatory

3. The signatory’s capacity i.e. A Notary public, Solicitor

4. The issuer’s stamp of authority

5. The details of any official seal on the document

6. The place and date of issue

7. The unique number of the individual certificate

Which countries will accept an Apostille?

For a complete list of which countries will accept an Apostille please visit a further article in this series titled Apostille friendly countries.

For more information regarding Apostilles and the cost of obtaining one through MD Pryke Notary Public LLP, please contact us through the usual channels.

As a UK Notary in London, I am often contacted by US citizens requesting a notarial service such as legalising a document, witnessing a document or issuing an apostille.

A UK Notary Public greatly differs from a US Notary however, so at M D Pryke Notary Public LLP we have decided to produce a series of articles illustrating the difference between US and UK Notary services.

1. Notaries Public Status

US Notaries are not regarded as a public authority.

A UK Notary is deemed to be a public official. Therefore, documents which have been notarized by a UK Notary Public can subsequently be legalised.  This process of legalisation is completed by the Foreign and Commonwealth office adding an apostille, or, alternatively, through various UK embassies.

2. Notary qualifications

In the United States of America, a Notary does not have to be legally qualified.  A US Notary may purchase their entitlement for a limited period.

A Notary Public in the UK is most often a lawyer too.  It is technically possible to qualify as a UK Notary without being, say, a Solicitor or Barrister, but one must sit an extensive series of examinations at considerable expense.

3. Notarial Commissions

In the United States a notary will pay a fee to practice for a predetermined length of time.  This period is referred to as the ‘commission’. For this reason, all US Notaries must include a reference to the expiry date of their commission.

British Notaries are qualified for an indefinite period.  Although English Notaries Public are issued with annual practicing certificates by their governing body, the Faculty Office, they are effectively a Notary for life.

To avoid any potential miscommunication, at M D Pryke Notary Public we include the phrase ‘my commission expires with life’ on all notarised documents pertaining to the United States.

For further information on the differences between UK Notaries and their North American counterparts please see other articles in this series, or alternatively contact us through the usual channels.

Okay, so you’ve been told that you need to legalise a document.  The chances are that you are doing business abroad and, because the documents relate to a different judicial system, you must have them officially legalised.  This effectively means that you are required to run the documents past an officially approved third party to validate their authenticity such as a UK Notary.

Matthew Pryke is a fully qualified UK Notary Public who provides a complete range of legalisation solutions and UK Notary services from his offices in London’s West End.  He has produced this brief guide to enable people who require a document to be legalised in the United Kingdom to fully understand their UK Notary legalisation options.

Five Legalisation tips everyone should know

1. Always obtain a legalisation fee quote in advance.   Any UK Notary should be able to give you a clear idea of how much the procedure will cost you in advance of retaining their services.

2. Shop around.  As with any consumer choice it pays to compare the legalisation marketplace.  Prices vary considerably.  Some UK Notaries charge VAT on their prices.  Others do not.  This will save you 17.5% of the fee before you even begin to compare services.

3. The legalisation process can be lengthy.  It may be necessary to queue for hours on end at certain Embassies and Consulates.  This may be acceptable if you can spare the time and manpower, otherwise your UK Notary may be able to recommend cost effective solutions to obtain this on your behalf.

4. Make sure that you give your UK Notary clear instructions as to the deadline for receiving the legalised documents. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (who administer apostilles) offer differing levels of service and cost depending on how quickly the documents must be legalised.  If your documents are not urgent, take care that you are not paying a premium for a service that you don’t require.

5. Ask questions.  Experienced UK Notaries Public will be aware that this may all be new to you and will be able to reassure you over any complexity that arises and to explain the issues in clear, plain English.

If you have any queries about the UK Legalisation process, please contact M D Pryke Notary Public LLP and they will be delighted to address your concerns.

London Notaries Public Practice MD Pryke Notary Public would like to inform all of its notaries clients that with effect from 1 November 2009 the Chinese Embassy has increased the legalisation fees charged as follows:

Personal purpose Legalisation (per document) -  from £12 to £15

Business purpose Legalisation (per document) -  from £23 to £25

Please note that documents for China may require a notarised translation into Chinese.  Legalisation by the Chinese Consulate is expected to take 48 hours. The Chinese Consulate requires a photocopy of each notarised document to be legalised when the document is lodged. For an additional fee, legalisation may be completed sooner. The document to be legalised must first be certified (by way of Apostille) by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office where the legalisation fee for certification (by way of Apostille) is £69 per document.

London Notaries practice owner Matthew Pryke explains “The increase in legalisation fees charged by the Chinese Embassy is unlikely to be warmly received by any of our London notaries clients.  However our London notaries clients are able to enjoy affordable and fixed notarisation fees which notarisation fees have not been increased for more than 3 years.  In addition our notary public legalisation solutions guarantee an affordable and efficient legalisation service which provides our London notaries clients with the opportunity to ensure even the tightest of notarisation and legalisation deadlines are met.”

For further tips and guidance regarding leglations fees and legalisation services please refer to the following notaries public article http://www.mdpryke-notary.com/2009/10/notary-public-legalisation-fee-tips. Alternatively and for or further information regarding notarisation fees or to obtain a notary public legalisation quote please do not hesitate to contact this London Notaries practice at www.mdpryke-notary.com

London Notary Public Practice MD Pryke Notary Public would like to inform all of its clients that on Thursday 26 November 2009, the Legalisation Offices of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be closed.  London Notaries practice M D Pryke Notary Public will therefore provide the usual same day legalisation service from Friday 27^th November 2009.  

London Notaries practice owner Matthew Pryke explains “We understand the Legalisation Office is closed for staff training on 26^th November.  This is unfortunate and as a consequence we will not be able to process legalisation requirements for our London Notaries clients until 27^th November 2009.  However from the 27^th November 2009 and onwards my London Notaries practice will continue to provide a same day service for any Apostille and other legalisation requirements.“ 

Matthew’s London Notaries practice provides a complete range of legalisation solutions and legalisation tips for its London Notary clients for further information please refer to the recent legalisation tips article http://www.mdpryke-notary.com/2009/10/notary-public%20legalisation-tips/

For further information about the Legalisation Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and a range of options to obtain an Apostille or other legalisation certificates and stamps please contact London Notary Matthew Pryke at his London Notaries practice website http://www.mdpryke-notary.com/.

Matthew Pryke, Notary Public London, provides a complete range of notarisation and legalisation services for his Notary Public Clients. His London Notary Public practice is increasingly asked to provide competitive and fixed fee quotes to address legalisation, including obtaining apostilles.  Often London Notary Clients require a range of notarisation and legalisation services based on the deadline and budget for legalisation.  Often legalistion fees can be greater than the notarisation fees and consequently Matthew Pryke, Notary Public London, has produced a short guide and tips for his Notary Clients when determining legalisation fees. 

Notary Public Legalisation Fees Tip 1:  Consider the cost versus time for a Notary Public practice to deal with the legalisation.  Whilst notarial clients can save fees by dealing with legalisation themselves it can be counter productive if significant time is required to deal with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for Apostille) or London Consulate. Time is money!

Notary Public Legalisation Fees Tip 2:  Determine an appropriate deadline. A number of London’s Consulates and also the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for apostilles) offer varying legalisation services which can significantly reduce legalisation fees if clients’ requirements are less pressing. For urgent notarial matters this legalisation option will not be possible.  However a good Notary Public practice should provide such options to you as a way of reducing notarisation and legalisation fees. 

Notary Public Legalisation Fees Tip 3:  Seek courier quotes in advance.  As courier fees charged by London Notary Public practices vary greatly it is always advisable to seek a full and detailed fee quote.  Whilst the fees charged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for apostilles) and London Consulates will be fixed the courier fees will vary based on the competitive pricing of the legalisation service offer by the Notary Public London.

Notary Public Legalisation Fees Tip 4:  Legalise a number of documents at the same time.  Legalisation courier fees are likely to be incurred each time a trip is made to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for apostilles) or a London Consulate.  Therefore cost savings can be enjoyed by dealing with several documents at the same time.  This provides the usual economies of scale as part of the legalisation process.

Notary Public Legalisation Fees Tip 5:  Ensure the document can be legalised.  Often legalisation fees and time can be wasted by taking documents to be legalised either to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for apostilles) or London Consulates when the documents have not been dealt with, for example, via notarisation, and are therefore rejected.  It is always advisable to seek the advice of a qualified and experienced London Notary Public practice to ensure that all legal and procedural steps have been taken prior to legalisation.

London Notary Public Matthew Pryke would like to remind his notary clients that whilst many areas of the country are currently effected by the Royal Mail industrial dispute MD Pryke Notary Public  continues to provide affordable legalisation solutions to its notary clients.   MD Pryke Notary Public would recommend to all its notary clients that, during this uncertain time, they avoid the postal service offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  London notaries practice MD Pryke Notary Public is able to provide the following legalisation solutions (to obtain Apostilles) which notarial clients can trust.

London Notary Public Legalisation Option 1 – Premium Service

MD Pryke Notary Public offers a same day turn around of notarised documents which are couriered, legalised and returned to clients.  The large majority of notary clients prefer to opted for this legalisation solution as it provides certainty and an efficient service for a slightly increased fee.

London Notary Public Legalisation Option 2 – Hand delivering documents to Norfolk House

MD Pryke Notary Public also offers its notary clients a legalisation service whereby notarised documents are couriered to Norfolk House in Milton Keynes on a daily basis.  Notarial documents will then be dealt with via the “Public Counter” section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices legalisation department.  Notary clients are able to receive their notarised documents back legalised within approximately 24 – 48 hours based on when the notarised document is received by London Notaries practice MD Pryke Notary Public.

London Notary Public Legalisation Option 3 – Legalisation via DX

London Notaries Public practice MD Pryke Notary Public also offers notary clients a service whereby documents can be legalised and dealt with within a week without the need to incur additional courier fees.  MD Pryke Notary Public offers a legalisation service whereby notarised documents can be posted via DX and then legalised at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the same day.  Whilst this process takes a little longer than the premier service and couriering service the cost savings and turn around, in a matter of days, offers a useful and cost efficient legalisation alternative to the London notary clients of MD Pryke Notary Public.

For further details of the legalisation services offered by London Notary Public Matthew Pryke or alternatively to seek a notarisation or legalisation fee quote please visit the website of this London Notaries practice at www.mdpryke-notary.com.

London Notary Public practice MD Pryke Notary Public, based in London’s West End,  would like to provide an update to its notary clients regarding the legalisation service offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Legalisation Department, which issues Apostilles on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,  has confirmed to this London Notaries practice that all mail received from Notary Publics up to 9^th October has now been opened.  Consequently the Legalisation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that applications for legalisation received after this date will be open “as soon as possible“.  Many London notaries, including London Notary Matthew Pryke, fear that the industrial action planned by the Royal Mail is likely to delay the postal application legalisation service offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  Consequently London Notary Public Matthew Pryke would like to advise all notary clients to consider using alternative ways in which to achieve legalisation of documents.

Commenting on the impending industrial action London Notary Public Matthew Pryke explained, “Notary clients are understandably concerned as to the potential impact that the Royal Mail industrial action may have on their deadlines to obtain Apostilles from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  As a cautionary measure I am advising all of my notary clients to consider using alternative means in which to get documents legalised by utilising London Notary Public legalisation services such as the premium service, DX or using London notary practice couriers to legalise documents via the Foreign and Commonwealth offices “Public Counter”“.

London notarial practice MD Pryke Notary Public offers a complete range of affordable legalisation services which will ensure that notarial clients can continue to get documents legalised to suit any time frame and budget. For further details of the legalisation services offered by London Notary Public practice MD Pryke Notary Public please refer to the London notaries website www.mdpryke-notary.com or alternatively telephone 0207 636 4422.