HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire a notary public in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A notary public in Ireland costs €80–€300 per document, typically around €150. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a notary public in five steps

  1. Are you on the Roll of Solicitors, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — oaths and Affirmations — notaries can administer oaths and affirmations for various legal purposes, such as court proceedings or sworn statements.
  2. How does complexity of the documents change the price?A fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does number of signatures required change the price?The per-item price falls as the number rises. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does location of the notary change the price?A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Notaries do not provide legal advice or prepare legal documents — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a notary public job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

the Roll of Solicitors

A person must be on the Roll AND hold a current practising certificate. Being qualified is not the same as being entitled to practise. Restricted to solicitor holding a current practising certificate: acting as a solicitor; conveyancing and the drawing of certain documents for reward; describing oneself as a solicitor.

Search the Roll of Solicitors for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. lawsociety.ie →

Costs in writing

A legal practitioner must provide a written statement of costs (a section 150 notice) as soon as practicable after taking instructions. If no written costs notice arrives, ask for it before anything else happens. It is the document every later argument about fees depends on.

Ask for the notice before you instruct anyone, and keep it: it is the document any later dispute about the bill is read against.

Insurance

Expect professional indemnity insurance is compulsory for solicitors in practice. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you on the Roll of Solicitors, and what is your number?”

A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — oaths and Affirmations — notaries can administer oaths and affirmations for various legal purposes, such as court proceedings or sworn statements.

“How does complexity of the documents change the price?”

A good answer: A fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does number of signatures required change the price?”

A good answer: The per-item price falls as the number rises. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does location of the notary change the price?”

A good answer: A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Notaries do not provide legal advice or prepare legal documents — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a notary public job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance is compulsory for solicitors in practice — apostille Services — notaries provide apostille services to certify documents for international use.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the notary public starts, and an itemised invoice after — witnessing Signatures — A notary public can act as an impartial witness for the signing of important legal documents.

Getting the quote right

  • Complexity of the documents — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one.
  • Number of signatures required — the per-item price falls as the number rises.
  • Location of the notary — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work.
  • Complexity of the service required — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They are not on the Roll of Solicitors, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
  • They will not talk about it: complexity of the documents — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one
  • They will not talk about it: number of signatures required — the per-item price falls as the number rises
  • They will not talk about it: location of the notary — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work
  • A price for the notary public before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
LOW
€80
TYPICAL
€150
HIGH
€300

What a notary public costs: €80–€300 per document

The figures are for the job, per document, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Document notarisation and Affidavit notarisation each carry their own band. Notary Public price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Notary publics near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Look firstComplexity of the documents — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one — that is what the notary public is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneNumber of signatures required — the per-item price falls as the number rises — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfLocation of the notary — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherComplexity of the service required — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the notary public is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, travel distance — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for.

Witnessing Signatures
A notary public can act as an impartial witness for the signing of important legal documents.
Apostille Services
Notaries provide apostille services to certify documents for international use.
Oaths and Affirmations
Notaries can administer oaths and affirmations for various legal purposes, such as court proceedings or sworn statements.
Affidavit Notarisation
Administering oaths and affirmations for affidavits, confirming the truth of the statements made.
Power of Attorney
Notarising documents that grant someone the authority to act on another person's behalf.
International Document Notarisation
Notarising documents intended for use in foreign countries, often requiring additional authentication.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — oaths and Affirmations — notaries can administer oaths and affirmations for various legal purposes, such as court proceedings or sworn statements, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the notary public has gone.
Test what was doneApostille Services — notaries provide apostille services to certify documents for international use — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. witnessing Signatures — A notary public can act as an impartial witness for the signing of important legal documents — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a notary public's card means something — international Document Notarisation — notarising documents intended for use in foreign countries, often requiring additional authentication.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itReport it to the Roll of Solicitors.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a notary public: questions people ask

The cost of notary services can vary based on factors such as the complexity of the documents, the number of signatures required, and the location of the notary. Additional fees may apply for travel or urgent requests.

The duration for notarization typically ranges from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the number of documents and the availability of the notary. It's advisable to schedule an appointment to minimise waiting time.

Notary services are generally provided by licensed professionals, so a general notary is sufficient for most tasks. However, for specialised documents, it may be beneficial to consult a notary with specific expertise.

Yes, you can book multiple notarizations in one appointment. This can often save time and may reduce overall costs, as some notaries offer package deals for multiple services.

Notaries do not provide legal advice or prepare legal documents. Their role is limited to witnessing signatures and verifying identities, so for more complex legal matters, consulting a lawyer is recommended.

Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.

MORE GUIDES

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Notary publics near you

Notary publics in DublinNotary publics in CorkNotary publics in GalwayNotary publics in LimerickAll notary publics on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Law Society of Ireland — find a solicitor
  2. Legal Services Regulatory Authority
  3. Legal Services Regulation Act 2015
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  5. Revenue — LAWYERS/SOLICITORS SERVICES (LEGAL SERVICES) — Standard rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only