HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

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

Notarial work is reserved in England and Wales. Here is how to prepare, what an apostille is and what the fee covers.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a notary public in five steps

  1. Ask the receiving body exactly what it needsNotarised signature, certified copy, apostille, embassy legalisation or translation.
  2. Bring ID and proof of addressAnd authority to sign for a company if relevant.
  3. Do not sign beforehandThe notary must see you sign, in most cases.
  4. Ask for a full priceNotary fee, apostille fee, courier and translation.
  5. Allow time for legalisationAn apostille can add a week or more.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

Reserved notarial activities

The Legal Services Act 2007 lists notarial activities among the reserved legal activities in England and Wales, so only an authorised person may carry them out.

Ask the notary public for their practising details and check them before the appointment. legislation.gov.uk →

Legalisation and apostilles

gov.uk explains that some countries need a document legalised before they will accept it, which means getting an apostille certificate from the FCDO confirming the signature, stamp or seal is genuine.

Ask the receiving organisation whether an apostille is needed after notarisation. gov.uk →

Certifying a copy yourself

gov.uk explains how a person can certify a copy of a document in some cases; a notary is needed where the receiving body asks specifically for a notarised copy, which is a reserved activity under the Legal Services Act 2007.

Check whether a simpler certified copy would do before booking a notary public. gov.uk →

Identity and record keeping

Data protection rules apply to the ID and documents the notary records and keeps, and most businesses must pay the ICO fee.

Ask how the notary keeps records of your documents and ID. gov.uk →

VAT

Notarial services are standard-rated, so a registered notary public adds 20% to the notarial fee, per document or attendance. Registration becomes compulsory once a notary public has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the notary public for the VAT number with the quote and for the notarial fee, VAT and apostille or embassy fees listed apart. gov.uk →

“Are you authorised to carry out notarial acts as a notary public?”

A good answer: A clear yes with practising details you can check.

“What exactly will the foreign body accept?”

A good answer: The notary public should ask you for its written instructions.

“Do I also need an apostille or embassy legalisation?”

A good answer: An answer for the country, and whether the notary arranges it.

“What ID should I bring?”

A good answer: Photo ID, proof of address and, for a company, proof of authority.

“What does the notarial fee include?”

A good answer: Attendance, certificate, record keeping and any courier.

“How long will legalisation take?”

A good answer: A realistic timescale, including the FCDO stage.

“Can the notary handle translations?”

A good answer: Whether a certified translation is needed and who provides it.

Getting the quote right

  • Notary fee per document or attendance
  • Who actually attends the signing: the notary public named, in person, as notarial acts cannot be delegated
  • Apostille or embassy fees shown separately
  • Translation and courier costs
  • Number of documents and signatories
  • Turnaround for the whole process
  • The VAT number, and VAT at 20% on the notarial fee, listed apart from apostille or embassy fees

Walk away if

  • Offers to notarise without seeing you or your ID
  • Cannot show they are authorised
  • Asks you to sign beforehand
  • Vague about apostille costs
  • No receipt
  • Promises the foreign body will accept anything
LOW
£90
TYPICAL
£300
HIGH
£420

What a notary public costs: £90–£420 per document

Notaries usually charge per document or attendance, with apostille, embassy and translation costs added. 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

Notaries 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. InstructionsThe receiving body's requirements checked.
  2. Identity checksID and authority confirmed and recorded.
  3. Notarial actSignature witnessed or copy certified.
  4. CertificateNotarial certificate attached.
  5. LegalisationApostille or embassy step arranged if needed.

Notarial act
A signing, certification or other act performed by a notary.
Apostille
An FCDO certificate confirming a UK document's signature or seal.
Legalisation
Confirming a document is genuine so another country accepts it.
Notarial certificate
The notary's certificate attached to the document.
Certified copy
A copy confirmed as a true copy of the original.
Reserved activity
Legal work only authorised people may do in England and Wales.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check the document before sendingSeal, signature, certificate and any apostille attached.
Keep copiesOf the notarised document and the apostille.
Track the courierUse a tracked service for originals.
Share how it wentBooked work is the only kind reviewed on Locufy, which makes each review of the notary public worth reading. Use the make-it-right step first if anything is unresolved.

STEP 1Put it to the notary public in writingEmail the notary public with the facts, the evidence and a date for a reply. Reasonable care and skill is a term the Consumer Rights Act 2015 reads into every service a trader sells you, and a shortfall entitles you to have it redone or pay less.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyRate the job under four stars and you can send it to the notary public through the make-it-right step. We keep track of it, then you post the review.
STEP 3The notary's regulator, then adviceComplain to the notary first in writing, then to the body that authorises them. For your consumer rights, Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060) or Consumerline (0300 123 6262) can help.
STEP 4Go to small claimsWhen the notary public has had a fair chance and nothing has changed, small claims is built for you to use yourself: £10,000 in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland under simple procedure, £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a notary public: questions people ask

In England and Wales, only an authorised notary: notarial activities are reserved under the Legal Services Act 2007.

A certificate from the FCDO confirming a document's signature, stamp or seal is genuine, required by many countries.

Ask the receiving body; if it asks for notarisation, a certified copy will not do.

Between £90 and £420 per document, most often near £300. The type and number of documents, legalisation and translations set the fee. For the reasons behind the range, read the notary public price guide; for local notaries, enter your town above.

Usually photo ID and proof of address, and proof of authority for a company.

A short appointment; legalisation can add a week or more.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in business & professional

How to hire: SolicitorHow to hire: Translation ServiceHow to hire: Immigration LawyerHow to hire: Wills & ProbateHow to hire: Conveyancing SolicitorHow to hire: ParalegalHow to hire: InterpreterHow to hire: Company Formation ServiceAll 701 hiring guides →

Notaries near you

Notaries in LondonNotaries in ManchesterNotaries in BirminghamNotaries in GlasgowNotaries in BelfastAll notaries on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Legal Services Act 2007, section 12 — reserved legal activities
  2. gov.uk — get your document legalised
  3. gov.uk — certifying a document
  4. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  5. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  6. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  7. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  8. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  9. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register