A couple wish to sell their property abroad. Their lawyer prepares the sale documentation and asks them to attend before a Notary Public in Northern Ireland who can witness their signatures to the documents.
The Notary checks the identity, capacity and authority of the couple. They show the Notary their personal documents as proof of their identity and address. When the Notary and the couple are satisfied that the sale documentation is in order, she witnesses their signatures to the documents, signs the documents and stamps them with her official notarial seal.
A further requirement of some overseas countries is for the notarised document to bear an “apostille”. An “apostille” is a certificate verifying that the Notary’s signature and seal are genuine. This certificate is issued by the Legalisation Section of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), The Legalisation Office, Norfolk House (West), 437 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2AH. Their current opening hours are 9.30 am – 3.30 pm and the charge is £30 per apostille. The website is www.fco.gov.uk
