SHERGILL & CO.
SOLICITORS & NOTARY PUBLIC
22 BATH ROAD, HOUNSLOW, MIDDLESEX TW3 3EB TEL: 020 8570 2323 FAX: 020 8570 7801 DX 3534 HOUNSLOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does notarisation mean?
A: This means the act by a notary of certifying a signature or issuing a certificate. There is no statutory restriction on what a notary is allowed to attest to.
Q: What does authentification mean?
A. The same as notarisation.
Q: What is the role of identification?
A: All signatories must be identified personally (by production of original passport). Certificates involving a single signatory and/or an officer who is not a director or the company secretary and/or a non-English company can require detailed and complex investigation.
Q: Why do I need a passport?
A: As a result of increasing fraud and the advent of money laundering regulations, this is the preferred document for individual identification. However, other documents can suffice e.g. a driving license containing the signatory's photograph.
Q: What is a certificate or a notarial certificate?
A: The core function of a notary which is to issue certificates attesting to facts witnessed by or proved to him and attested under his signature and seal.
Q: What is a seal?
A: Every notary has his own die-cast or embossed seal, usually containing a unique design or crest, the words "notary public" and his name.
Q: Do I need a notary for a power of attorney?
A: If for use overseas, this is the document most frequently needing notarisation.
Q: What does legalisation mean?
A: Legalisation means the certification of a signature and seal of a notary by a consular or diplomatic authority. In most transactions, legalisation will be achieved by a document being certified (“apostille”) by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall , London .
Q: What is an ‘apostille’?
A: Specific form of legalisation originally created by the Convention of 5th October 1961 of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Information as to which countries have signed the Convention is available from the office.
Q: How do I get translations?
A: This is one of the most important services traditionally provided by notaries. Shergills and Co. has contacts with a number of firms of translators and translations of most languages can usually be arranged quite easily and quickly but this will be at the client's cost. Please enquire at the office as to the availability of such facilities
Q: What does ‘escritura’ mean?
A: This is a Spanish (or Portuguese) word popularly believed to mean title deed to real property but actually only means an instrument in writing.
Q: What records are kept?
A: Notaries must keep extensive records (but not necessarily full copies) of all their certificates and annexed documents, in some cases permanently. These are all private records available only to clients or under statutory exceptions.
This firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No:75153) Members of Immigraion Law Practitioners' Association
Notary Public
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