Process & Charges

PROCESS

Notarial work various greatly. Therefore, Edward will give a detailed breakdown of the fees and costs before carrying out the work - preferably by email.

It is strongly advised that you email Edward first with a detailed description of the instruction or query which should include:

  1. a detailed description of your circumstances

  2. a copy of the document needing notarising

  3. whether an apostille or additional legalisation is required

  4. forwarding any instruction from the lawyer or institution you’ve received the request from

  5. where you are located

  6. your phone number

  7. any time limits or special circumstances

  8. if a company, the limited company registration number

Edward will then return with a breakdown of the notarial fee and other charges asking you to make an appointment. Fees are charged on the time that Edward spends in advising, preparing and dealing with a notarial act.

APPOINTMENT

Edward has offices at 2 King Street in Llandeilo and 14 Kings Road, Llandovery offices- both are warm and cosy. There are several meeting rooms, full fibre Wifi and toilets.

At the appointment, ID will be required including your original passport or national ID card and driving licence or bank or building society statement with your current address. If possible, before the meeting, please send a scan or photograph of your ID to Edward.

At the appointment, Edward will need to take detailed colour copies of the ID and verify the same. The originals will then be returned.

Edward will be able to take payment by card, cheque, cash or bank transfer. Receipts can be provided by text message, email or hard copy.

If the document does not require an apostille or further legalisation, the original will be available for you to take with you immediately.

Edward will keep a scan of the document.

The turnaround time for a notarial act following the appointment is usually same day - unless a document requires verification with a thaird party - or an additional document is required prior to completing the notarial act.

NOTARIAL FEES

Edward charges a minimum fee of £59.

A fixed fee will usually be given at the outset but please discuss your matter fully with Edward first. ​.

More complex work is charged on an hourly rate of £399 per hour.

The fee includes time spent on taking your instruction, preliminary advice, research, drafting and preparation time, making and receiving telephone calls, correspondence written and received in all formats, arranging apostille and or legalisation and courier organisation. ​

Please note that if payments are required to be made on your behalf such as legalisation fees, translator or interpreter fees, or other costs such as travelling expenses, your approval to these will be obtained and you are normally required to make payment in advance of any such amounts.

APOSTILLE CHARGES

Some documents require legalisation before they will be accepted for use in the receiving jurisdiction by obtaining an apostille through the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Edward uses an agent to carry out this work and a quote for their fee will be provided on instructions being received.

The charges depend on the speed of service, the recipient country (UK, Europe or the remainder of the World), embassy and consular charges.

Edward advises using his agent because of their skill, knowledge and connections.

CONSULAR CHARGES

For countries not signed up to the Hague Convention, legalisation at the consular or embassy is also required.

When a document needs consular legalisation, the document, having had an apostille, is then sent to the consular or embassy offices of the country that the document is required for who then verify the authenticity of the apostille and notarisation. Again Edward uses an agent to organise this seamless transition.

The cost and timescales for consular legalisation depends entirely on the consulate / embassy used and the document itself. Again, please speak to Edward about getting a breakdown of costs and disbursements for your particular document.

COURIER

Edward, via his agent in London, will organise the courier of the document (usually by DHL) to the recipient direct from London thus saving valuable time. This services includes tracking details and a scan of the document prior to being couriered.

Advice on the type of courier and timescales will be given during the process and depends on where the document is being sent.

TRANSLATION

Edward can organise and arrange professional translation of documents prior to or post notarisation. Again, speak to Edward to get a quote.

COMPLAINTS PROCESS

1. My notarial practice is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury:  

The Faculty Office  1, The Sanctuary, Westminster, London  SW1P 3JT 

Telephone 020 7222 5381 | Email Faculty.office@1thesanctuary.com | www.facultyoffice.org.uk  

2. If you are dissatisfied about the service you have received please do not hesitate to contact me.  

3. If we are unable to resolve the matter you may then complain to the Notaries Society of which I am a member, who have a Complaints Procedure which is approved by the Faculty Office.  This procedure is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution to any dispute.  

4. In that case please write (but do not enclose any original documents) with full details of your complaint to :-  

The Secretary of The Notaries Society, P O Box 1023, Ipswich IP1 9XB | Email secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk 

If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing please do not hesitate to contact the Notaries Society/the Faculty Office for assistance.  


5. Finally, even if you have your complaint considered under the Notaries Society Approved Complaints Procedure, you may at the end of that procedure, or after a period of 8 weeks from the date you first notified me that you were dissatisfied, make your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, if you are not happy with the result :   

Legal Ombudsman, P O Box 6167, Slough SL1 0EH | Tel : 0300 555 0333 | enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk www.legalombudsman.org.uk  

6. If you decide to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, you must refer your matter to the Legal Ombudsman within one year from the act/omission or within one year from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.

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

  • Certificates of Free Sale

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).

Tel: 01558 678 009   |  edward@carreglaw.co.uk  |  2 King Street, Llandeilo SA19 6AA

 

Edward Friend | Notary Public | A full service notarial practice