Notarial Services

Notary Public Edward Friend Wales Swansea Cardiff Carmarthen Haverfordwest

A notary public is the highest qualified legal professional in England and Wales.

It is a separate profession to that of a solicitor or barrister - the role of notary public is a legal officer of ancient standing.

The main role of the notary being to prepare and execute legal documents for use outside of England and Wales.

Currently there are approximately 750 notaries practising throughout England and Wales, and very few in Wales.

If you have financial, legal or property dealings outside of England and Wales, then you will most likely need a notary public to authenticate documentation. A document prepared or authenticated by a notary public will carry significant authority and will be relied upon by authorities outside of England and Wales.

Sometimes, however, a document or deed needs to be notarised with a notary public for use in England and Wales. Often the Welsh Government or Government ministries require notarised documents when a person lacks capacity or is unable to sign due to some physical impediment. ​

Be careful when searching the internet for providers of notarial or apostille services, quite a few offer 'notarial' services at what appear to be significant cheaper rates when in fact they are lawyers and or agents able to obtain an apostille or legalisation at the various embassies. Edward is often contacted by clients who have used these services only to find that the third party they are dealing with require proper notarial documents (a document prepared or verified by a notary public). Only a notary public can offer this service and in the majority of cases you will need to see the notary public in person to confirm your identity and sign the particular document.

Documents prepared by a notary public can be official public documents in nature and a public record will be kept by the notary of such documents. This means a permanent public record available for inspection by anyone who has an interest in the document is created. 

​The admission and regulation of a notary public is overseen by the Master of the Faculties. 

Personal Notarial Services

  • Powers of attorney

  • Certifying and verifying ID documentation

  • Confirmation of status to marry

  • Notarising Wills

  • Consent for travel

  • Notarising translations

  • Change of name

Commercial Notarial Services

  • Company powers of attorney

  • Company contract work

  • Certificates of Good Standing

  • Declarations by Directors

  • Authentication of facts

  • MHRA notarisation

  • Free Sale Agreement notarisation

Apostille + Legalisation

  • Apostille

  • Consular legalisation

  • Embassy legalisation

  • Agent instruction

  • Courier of legal documents to foreign jurisdictions

  • Translations

Being a full time notary public, Edward sees clients from all over Wales including Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cardiff and Newport and throughout the valleys into Mid Wales (including Aberystwyth, Newtown and beyond).

Edward Friend | Notary Public | A full service notarial practice