Notary Public Cork Blog
A notary public is someone who has been appointed by the state to authenticate legal documents and verify the identity of the document’s signer(s). In Ireland a Notary Public is also a Solicitor.
You may have read that you need to get your document signed by a notary public. Without knowing who this person is or understanding how their signature helps validate your legal document, this step can seem confusing. In this post, discover what notarisation is and why you may need to seek out a notary public when completing certain legal documents.
Notary Publics and Notarising Documents
A notary public is someone who has been appointed by the state to authenticate legal documents and verify the identity of the document’s signer(s). Notaries can be individuals such as lawyers or government officials. Notarisation (the process of getting your document signed by a notary public) helps prevent fraud by ensuring individuals authenticate their documents before they can be used. It can also help confirm that the signer intended to sign the document and wasn’t pressured into doing so (e.g. through undue influence, coercion or duress, etc.), similar to signing your document in front of a witness.
Notary publics can also do a number of other tasks, such as:
1. Confirm the identities of the participating parties
2. Witness signatures between them
3. Sign off on the validity of the agreement
For some documents, Notarisation is the first step, in which a notary will certify the document in a certain way, depending what is required. They may, for example, certify a person’s signature on the document to prove that the person signing is the person named in the document.
Finding a Notary Public
All Irish Notaries are authorised to notarise documents for use anywhere in the world. Clients, no matter where they reside, can have documents notarised anywhere in Ireland. The place where the documents are actually signed and notarised is important. Each Notary may notarise documents in the County where his / her principal office is situated and also in some adjoining Counties. If it is intended that the Notary will actually sign and notarise the documents other than his / her own County, clients should ask the Notary to confirm that he / she is authorised to sign and notarise documents at that place.
Finalising Your Legal Documents
Notary publics are needed in law as they help ensure your document is valid. Many legal documents require notarisation during execution; however, even when notarisation is not required, it is a recommended way to help prevent avoidable issues like fraud, duress, and more.
Proof of Identity
Notarising a document today requires the same anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering formalities as apply on opening a new bank account. The rules are very strict.
You must satisfactorily prove your identity and place of residence and the Notary must keep the identification records for five years.
This process has to be repeated every time you go to the Notary unless you have been with the same Notary within the previous three months.
Passport
1. You must prove your identity, and that means producing your original passport.
2. Lesser proof will only be accepted for compelling reasons which must be satisfactory to the Notary.
3. The Notary will give no assurances in advance that your substitute document of identification will be acceptable.
4. If your passport number is given in the document to be notarised, then the passport must be produced, without exception.
5. If any other identifying detail is given in the document to be notarised (such as Identity Card number or tax number), then whatever document proves that other detail must also be produced.
Utility Bill
You must prove your current residential address by producing a recent utility bill (not being a mobile phone bill) addressed to you at your stated address within the previous
three months.
If you require a notary public cork or have any questions about our Notary Public services, you can Freephone: 1800 246442 or Email:
info@sweeneysolicitors.ie
