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authenticating legal documents

Notarial Services

Notarial Services

Notarial services refer to a range of legal services provided by a notary public. A notary is a specialist legal practitioner who has undertaken additional  exams and training to perform various legal functions such as preparing specialist legal documents, witnessing signatures, and verifying documents.

Notarial services are important because they help to ensure the authenticity and validity of legal documents. Notaries public play an essential role in preventing fraud and protecting the interests of individuals and businesses in various legal transactions.

Having your documents notarised can help prevent contract disputes and litigation

Notarial services we offer:

Antenuptial Contracts

A legal agreement that is entered into by two individuals before they get married. The purpose of an antenuptial contract is to determine the distribution of assets and liabilities in the event of a divorce or the death of one spouse by ensuring that both individuals are married out of the community of property and determining if the accrual system will apply to their marriage.

Certifications

A notary can certify that a copy of a document is a true and accurate copy of the original. Many government bodies and private organisations overseas will only accept documents that have been certified by a notary.

Increasingly, due to the risk of fraud, certain public bodies in South Africa will only accept documents certified by a notary. One example is the Health Professions Council which our notary can assist health professionals in supplying evidence of their professional qualifications.

Authentications

A notary can acknowledge the signing of a legal document. This involves verifying the identity of the signer, ensuring they are signing the document voluntarily, and confirming they understand the contents of the document.

Apostille

A special type of authentication that is used to verify the authenticity of a public document, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or diploma, for use in another country. The word “Apostille” refers to the certificate that is issued by a designated government authority, which verifies that the public document is genuine and has been issued by a competent authority.*

 * The process of obtaining an Apostille varies depending on the country where the document was issued.

In South Africa, the Registrar of the High Court will issue an Apostille provided that the public document has been certified by a notary public. We can assist with the preparation of the Apostille and delivery to the High Court in Durban for signature. 

Apostilles can often be completed on the same day, but please allow a 2-5 day turnaround depending on how quickly you can meet with our notary to certify the original public document.