A Notary Public is a member of the oldest branch of the legal profession and is a specialist lawyer who holds an internationally recognized public office and can authenticate documents for use anywhere in the world. They are regulated by the Court of Faculties under the Legal Services Act 2007. A Notary Public is an independent and impartial law officer and must not do anything to compromise this. They are bound by regulation to act in the prevention of money laundering, crime and terrorism. Unlike other lawyers, a Notary Public has a duty to those persons receiving and relying on the documents produced not just to person who instructs them.

A Notary Public is able to draft, witness or certify the validity of documents.A Notary Public may be asked to certify the identity and authority of people signing documents and when such documents are produced or authenticated by a Notary Public they will be acceptable abroad by virtue of the Notary Public’s signature and official seal of office. A Notary Public is also required to keep records and copies of the documents produced or verified, they can also refer to records to make copies of those documents when needed.

In dealing with company matters a Notary Public is required to carry out a search at the Companies House to check that the company is legally empowered to proceed with a particular transaction and will need to check that both the identity of the people signing on behalf of the company and that they have been granted the appropriate authority by the company. 

Notaries Public are also authorized to take affidavits or statutory declarations for use in court proceedings.

Around the world Notaries Public are know by a variety of similar names such as Notario Publico, Notaio, Notar or a Notaire.