BUSINESS NOTARY
SERVICES
Without our business notary services, you won’t be able to use your important documents to carry out business abroad. Whether you are wanting to open a new branch, start a new business, make a trade deal, or more, we can help.
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Business notary services we offer
We offer a comprehensive suite of bespoke notary services tailored specifically to the needs of your organisation, ensuring your legal documents are executed seamlessly for international use.
Common documents we deal with
We offer a comprehensive suite of bespoke notary services tailored specifically to the needs of your organisation, ensuring your legal documents are executed seamlessly for international use.
- Board resolutions
- Business Powers of Attorney
- Identity documents of company directors
- Shareholder agreements
- Companies House & UK Incorporation Documents
- Certificates of Incorporation
- Certificates of Good Standing
- Articles of Association
It should be noted that the list is not exhaustive, as there are many other less common business documents that we have not listed. Simply get in touch with us if you would like to discuss other types.
The steps to booking your business notary appointment with us are simple:
- 1. Contact us by phone, email, website chatbox, or through our website form
- 2. Talk to our team about your needs
- 3. Book your appointment at a time and place convenient for you
How it works
- Attend your notary appointment
- Our notary signs, seals and stamps your documents
- Documents are sent for legalisation with the FCDO
- Receive your documents back
- All done
Please note that there may be other steps involved that are situational, such as translations and drafting.
Situations where you will need our business notary services
Earlier on this page, we briefly mentioned the situations where you will need our business notary services, but here we will go into greater detail with more examples.
Some examples are as follows:
- Registering a company abroad
- Opening a new physical branch
- Opening a business bank account in another country
- Making a trade deal with a company or government
- Taking board resolutions overseas to, for example, another office in your company
- Register international trademarks
This list covers the more common situations that we come across when carrying out business notary services, which means there are other less common situations too.
Regardless of the reasons, our notaries are ready and waiting to assist you with their expertise.
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Other common documents we deal with
General
Attesting to the Execution and Signature of Documents
An authority may request that a Notary Public is present at the signing of any kind of document – particularly if that authority is outside of the UK. The presence of a notary guarantees that a particular document or contract has been signed by someone whose identification has been verified.
Statutory Declarations
A Statutory Declaration is a formal, written statement to affirm that something is true, to the best knowledge of the person making the declaration. Statutory Declarations have to be signed in the presence of an authorised person – such as a Notary Public.
Affidavits
An affidavit is a written statement from a person. It must be signed by the person (the ‘affiant’) and by a Notary Public – or other authorised person. Affidavits are likely to be accepted wherever Statutory Declarations are, provided that the wording features certain details. Affidavits are often required in court proceedings.
Oaths
An oath is a written statement from a person, which they swear to be true, invoking a divine witness.
This may not be appropriate for people with no religious beliefs. A declaration is a non-religious alternative to an oath. The signing of oaths must be witnessed by a Notary Public – or other authorised person.
Financial
Certified Accounts
Certified Accounts are copies of a company’s accounts, lodged annually with Companies House (UK). In order to avoid double taxation, it may be a requirement to provide foreign authorities with notarised and legalised copies of these Certified Accounts.
Overseas VAT Applications
Registering for a VAT number overseas requires documentation that may need to be notarised by a Notary Public. Requirements vary on the particular country or economic area that an individual or business is intending to sell into.
Documents may include true copies of passports and other personal identification, powers of attorney, and proof of VAT in the UK, among others.
Companies House & UK Incorporation
Certificates of Incorporation
A Certificate of Incorporation is issued by Companies House when a business is incorporated in the UK. The document is available to download from the Companies House website, but may need to be notarised or legalised for use overseas.
Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing is issued by Companies House and verifies the existence and details of UK companies. Foreign authorities may request that companies wishing to conduct business in their country provide this document. Many accept this without notarisation but some, including Spain, often request for it to be notarised. Notaries must order the document directly from Companies House.
Articles of Association
An Article of Association is one of a number of documents that may be required when incorporating a business in the UK. Notarised copies may be needed for applications to foreign authorities to set up overseas offices and bank accounts.
An Article of Association is often requested together with a Memorandum of Association. These may need to be notarised separately, depending on the foreign jurisdiction.
Memorandum of Association
A Memorandum of Association is one of a number of documents that may be required when incorporating a business in the UK. Notarised copies may be needed for applications to foreign authorities to set up overseas offices and bank accounts.
A Memorandum of Association is often requested together with an Article of Association. These may need to be notarised separately, depending on the foreign jurisdiction.
Confirmation of Director Details
It may be a requirement, when conducting business overseas, to provide details of company directors. This information is available on the Companies House website but further details may be requested by foreign partners and authorities. These may include copies of passports. In order to produce a True Copy of a passport, a Notary Public will need to meet with the individual to confirm their identity.
Foreign Trade
Trade Agreements
Companies engaging in business overseas may require the assistance of a Notary Public. In order to carry out commercial and corporate affairs in foreign jurisdictions, notaries are often needed to prepare and authenticate various documents.
Distribution Agreements
A Distribution Agreement usually involves a distributor who buys products from a manufacturer or other seller, before selling them to their own customers.
When distributors and manufacturers are in different countries, the assistance of a Notary Public may be required. This helps to ensure that agreements are valid for authorities in all relevant jurisdictions.
Board Meetings & Actions
Board Resolutions
Some decisions made in board meetings, particularly those relating to foreign business affairs, may require the services of a Notary Public. For example, if a board decides to transfer Power of Attorney to a foreign agent.
Board Resolutions do not need to be witnessed directly by a Notary Public; merely signed by the Company Secretary before the notary.
Shareholder Agreements
Shareholder Agreements only need to be notarised by a Notary Public if it relates to a matter involving a foreign jurisdiction.
Other
Digital Signature Applications
In some jurisdictions, such as India, company directors wishing to sign documents digitally must make an application in order to obtain a valid digital signature. The applicant must sign the form before a Notary Public, attaching their photograph.
Trademark Assignments
Registering international trademarks may require the assistance of a Notary Public. Notaries are authorised to certify documents for use in foreign jurisdictions, unlike solicitors.