Document Certification Service

What does it mean to get a document certified?

Document certification relates to confirming that a document is a true copy of the original. One of our legal professionals can officially sign and date a photocopy of the original document to certify that it is a true copy of the original.

You may need a range of documents certifying which can range from passports and identity cards to official letters from private or public agencies.

To do this, you will need to call us and arrange an appointment with a solicitor. You will need to bring along the original document on the day of your appointment and one of our solicitors will assist you. All solicitors are Commissioners for Oaths.

If you would like to arrange this service, please call us to book an appointment with a solicitor. Prices can be determined at the time of booking based on the number of documents that require certification.

What we cannot do

Countersigning your Passport Photo

We cannot countersign your photograph to confirm your identity for a passport application. To do this, you need to ask someone who has known you for at least two years, they must be able to identify you personally and they must be a ‘person of good standing in their community or work in/ be retired from a recognised profession. You must ensure that this person is not related to you or lives with you at the same address.

We are not a Notary Service

Some documents require authentication from specifically a Notary and the signature of a normal solicitor, will not suffice. A Notary is a qualified lawyer who is appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury and they are subject to regulation by the Master of Faculties. A solicitor cannot perform the duties of a Notary if the solicitor is not also a notary themselves.

There are different documents that require this and under different circumstances, but some examples include, if you want to apply to marry or work abroad, if you need company or business documents and transactions for foreign contacts authenticating or if you want to purchase or sell a piece of land oversees. The primary role of a notary is to attest to the authenticity of legal documents for their use abroad. If a document has been attested by a notary, it implies that the authorities abroad need not make further enquiries themselves and they can be accepted at face value.

For full information, you should refer to the official website of The Notaries Society: https://www.thenotariessociety.org.uk/.

You should check whether your document can be signed only by a solicitor or whether you need specifically a notary to carry out this work. We refer you to the above-mentioned link if this is the case.

Witnessing a Signature

If you need a solicitor to sign a document and witness your signature.

Sometimes you simply need a solicitor to witness you signing an official document or declaration. You can arrange an appointment with one of our solicitors to attend our office with the official document and with the person who is required to sign the document and we can sign to confirm that we have witnessed you officially signing the document in our presence.

We cannot remotely be providing this service. We need to physically see the official document in our office with the signor present.

Verifying your Identity

Do you need a solicitor to confirm that a copy of your identity document is a true likeness of yourself? We offer this service and a solicitor can certify that your identity document is a true and accurate likeness of yourself. The identity document holder will need to personally attend our office with the original document for this service to be completed.

Drafting a declaration

Do you need an official document drafted by a solicitor?

We offer this service, and our prices differ depending on the document itself and the service you require. You can contact us by phone and explain your requirements to one of our legal professionals and we will provide you with a quote for our services. The documents can be scanned for you once completed or you are welcome to collect them from our office.