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9 June 2026

Signing a personal guarantee in 2026: why you need a notary

Personal guarantees are documents that are important for business directors to be aware of, though you will not always need one. Read below to learn about signing a personal guarantee, as well as what we can do to assist you.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Signing a personal guarantee.

What is a personal guarantee?

Before we discuss signing a personal guarantee and the ways in which we can assist you, we shall go into detail on what one actually is. 

Essentially, a personal guarantee is a legally binding document between a business owner or director and a lender, stating that the owner or director is responsible for paying back any loan taken from the lender if the business becomes insolvent or defaults on any loan repayments.

They can be a good way to secure financial backing whilst developing a business, but if something goes wrong, your personal assets may need to be used to settle any debts, such as your home or car.

When might I need a personal guarantee?

Before we discuss signing a personal guarantee and the ways in which we can assist you, we shall go into detail on what one actually is. 

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We can then book your appointment at one of our convenient offices in London, Manchester or Sheffield, or you can take advantage of our mobile notary service at a time and place that suits you.

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Essentially, a personal guarantee is a legally binding document between a business owner or director and a lender, stating that the owner or director is responsible for paying back any loan taken from the lender if the business becomes insolvent or defaults on any loan repayments.

They can be a good way to secure financial backing whilst developing a business, but if something goes wrong, your personal assets may need to be used to settle any debts, such as your home or car. 

When might I need a personal guarantee?

A personal guarantee may be needed if a landlord, lender or a supplier asks for one to reduce their own risk when they provide financial assistance, and where you will be in debt to them in some way. 

They are usually needed when a company:

  • Been formed recently
  • Has little trading history
  • Has no or low credit rating
  • Is making transactions involving a large amount of money

Signing a personal guarantee

It is quick and easy to sign a personal guarantee, though you will not be able to do it alone.

When you are signing a personal guarantee, you must do so before a notary or other legal professional. They will act as a witness to you signing a personal guarantee, so as to verify that you are who you say you are.  

Our company is home to notaries who can act as a witness for you, as well as assisting you with other important services.

Benefits of a personal guarantee

Before you get a personal guarantee, you should consider if you actually need one or not. First, we will cover the benefits of getting one.

Obtain important funding
Through a personal guarantee, you could gain funding that your company would not otherwise be able to obtain. The funding could be the important difference between your company being successful, or unsuccessful.

Better terms for the loan
Lenders may offer better terms for the loan you take out with them, such as lower interest rates, if you make a personal guarantee. 

Drawbacks of a personal guarantee

Now we have covered the benefits of signing a personal guarantee, we will look at the drawbacks that you should be aware of.

Personal assets at risk
If you are unable to repay your debt for whatever reason, your personal assets could be at risk to help settle your debts. For example, your home, car, investments and business premises, amongst other things. 

Possibility of bankruptcy
In the event that your personal assets are not enough to cover your debt, you could be declared bankrupt. 

Bankruptcy will impact every aspect of your life until you have repaid your debts, so it is important to consider if the risk is worth it. 

Important notary services

Previously, we mentioned how a notary such as those at our firm can assist by acting as a witness to you signing a personal guarantee.

However, there are other very important services that a notary offers as well, which you may need in certain circumstances.

Notarisation
First is notarisation, which is the primary service of a Notary Public; this is important if you plan on taking your personal guarantee to another country and using it there. The notary will provide your document with their seal, stamp and signature. Our process is quick, convenient and tailored to you, so you can be sure you will receive the best service possible.

Legalisation
After notarisation, your personal guarantee will need to be legalised, which is the process where the details of a notary are proven to be legitimate according to records held by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 

Apostilles are the most common form of legalisation and are accepted by most countries. Getting an apostille is quicker than other forms of legalisation, as they were introduced in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention to be a more convenient way of taking your documents to other countries. 

However, not every country is a part of the convention. For those that are not signatories, your personal guarantee will need to go through the much lengthier process of embassy legalisation. As there are no set rules for embassy legalisation, every country’s process may vary slightly. 

We can assist you with every step of the legalisation process, regardless of whether you need an apostille or embassy legalisation. Visit our apostille packages page to learn more.

Get in touch today for help with your personal guarantee

Now you know about signing a personal guarantee, what the document is for and how we can help, it is time to book your notary appointment. 

There are several ways you can contact us, such as by phone, email, our contact form, or through our website chatbox. Whichever way you choose is up to you and a member of our team will be ready and waiting to discuss your needs. 

Appointments can take place at our conveniently placed offices in London, Manchester and Sheffield. However, if you cannot make it to one of our offices, you can make use of our accessible mobile notary service, where we come to you; your mobile notary appointment could be at your home, office, a café, or another suitable location of your choice.

Contact us today for our notary expertise. 

READY FOR ASSISTANCE?

If you have any questions about our notary, apostille or consular services,
contact Woodcock Notary Public today.

Call us on 0800 049 2471 (free to call) or email info@woodcocknotarypublic.com.

If you have any questions about our notary, apostille or consular services, contact Woodcock Notary Public today.

Call us on 0800 049 2471 (free to call) or email info@woodcocknotarypublic.com.

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