Notary Public Manchester: Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find answers to common questions about notarisation, appointments, fees, identification, paper apostilles and legalisation at KG Notary Public in Manchester.
Requirements vary depending on the document, destination country and receiving authority. Before arranging an appointment, please send us the document and any instructions received from your overseas lawyer, bank or receiving organisation. We will review the information and explain the likely process, quotation and timescale.
Important: Do not sign your document before meeting the notary unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise.
Before Your Notary Appointment
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A notary is usually required when a document is intended for use outside the United Kingdom. The overseas lawyer, bank, government department or receiving organisation should tell you whether the document must be notarised.
Check whether you have been asked to provide:
A certified copy
A notarised copy
A signature witnessed by a notary
A document signed before a solicitor or commissioner for oaths
A notarised document followed by a paper apostille or further legalisation
These are not necessarily the same requirements. If you are unsure, send us the document and any instructions you have received so that we can explain the likely notarial process.
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A solicitor principally advises on matters governed by the law of England and Wales. A notary public has a specialist role in authenticating identities, signatures, authority and documents, particularly where they will be used overseas.
Some organisations may accept certification by a solicitor, while others specifically require a notary. You should follow the instructions provided by the receiving authority.
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Please complete our quote-request form and provide:
A scan or clear photograph of each document
The country where the document will be used
A brief explanation of what you need
Any instructions received from the overseas lawyer or receiving authority
Your preferred timescale
Whether you require an apostille, embassy legalisation, translation or courier service
Once the documents have been reviewed, we will confirm the likely process, fee and timescale.
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Please send the document requiring notarisation together with any instructions received from the overseas lawyer, bank or receiving organisation.
For corporate matters, please also provide the company name, Companies House registration number, relevant incorporation documents and evidence confirming that the person signing is authorised to act for the company.
Additional information may be required depending on the document and destination country.
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No. Do not sign the document before meeting the notary unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise.
Where the notary must witness your signature, the document will normally need to be signed during the appointment.
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You will normally need to present an original, valid photographic identification document, such as:
A passport
A national identity card
A photographic driving licence
You may also need recent proof of your residential address, such as:
A utility bill
A Council Tax bill
A bank statement or bank letter dated within the last three months
The precise requirements depend on the type of matter and the checks the notary must complete.
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Original identification documents must normally be presented at the appointment. You may also need to bring the original document requiring notarisation.
We will confirm what you need to bring after reviewing your enquiry.
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Yes. We provide corporate notary services for companies, directors, authorised signatories and other business representatives.
This includes corporate powers of attorney, Companies House documents, board resolutions, company registers, overseas subsidiaries, foreign bank accounts and other commercial documents intended for use abroad.
Additional company, ownership and signatory-authority checks may be required before the appointment.
Fees, Appointments and Timescales
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Our minimum notarial fees are:
Individual notarisation: from £99 including VAT
Individual power of attorney: from £135 including VAT
Corporate notarisation: from £150 plus VAT
Corporate power of attorney: from £200 plus VAT
Additional personal documents connected with the same matter: £25–£55 including VAT per document
Additional corporate documents connected with the same matter: £80 plus VAT per document
The final fee depends on the document, the work required and whether additional services such as a paper apostille, embassy legalisation, translation, verification or courier delivery are needed.
You will receive a quotation before your appointment. Please see our Notary Fees page for further information.
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The length of the appointment depends on the document, the number of people signing and the checks required.
Reviewing the documents and instructions in advance makes the appointment more efficient. We will explain what to expect once we have reviewed your enquiry.
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Same-day or urgent appointments may be available for straightforward matters, subject to availability and completion of the necessary document and identity checks.
Please send the documents as early as possible and explain your deadline. We cannot confirm an appointment until the documents have been reviewed.
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Evening, weekend and other out-of-hours appointments may be available by prior arrangement. An additional charge of £55 including VAT normally applies.
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Mobile appointments may be arranged within Manchester and the Greater Manchester area, subject to availability.
Travel is charged at £5 per mile for the total journey, including VAT, in addition to the applicable notarial fee.
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No. We do not accept walk-in appointments.
All documents and relevant instructions must be submitted and reviewed before an appointment can be scheduled.
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Appointments take place at:
KG Notary Public
10th Floor
3 Hardman Street
Spinningfields
Manchester
M3 3HFThe building is opposite The Ivy and also houses The Alchemist. Appointments are available Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm, with evening and weekend appointments available by prior arrangement.
Please see our Office Directions page for information about the building, reception, public transport, parking and accessibility.
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Yes. Notarial services are available in both English and Polish.
Our Polish-speaking notary regularly assists clients with documents intended for use in Poland, including powers of attorney, inheritance matters, property transactions, passport applications and parental travel consents.
Apostilles, Legalisation and Overseas Requirements
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An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It confirms the authenticity of the signature, stamp or seal appearing on an eligible UK document.
An apostille may be required before a UK document can be accepted in another country.
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No. Whether an apostille is required depends on the destination country, the type of document and the requirements of the receiving authority.
Some documents require notarisation only. Others require a paper apostille after notarisation, and some may require further embassy or consular legalisation.
Before proceeding, check the requirements with the overseas lawyer or organisation receiving the document.
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No. KG Notary Public offers paper-based apostille services only.
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You have two options:
Option 1: Apply directly to the FCDO
You can apply through the GOV.UK legalisation service.
The standard paper-based apostille fee is currently £45 per document, plus courier or postage charges. The process usually takes up to 25 working days, plus delivery time, although the current timescale will be shown when you apply.
Fees and processing times are controlled by the FCDO and may change.
Option 2: Use our consular-agent paper apostille service
Our service costs £120 per document including VAT.
Subject to the document being eligible and accepted for processing:
DHL delivery to a UK address is normally available within four working days from the notary appointment
Collection from our Manchester office is normally available within five working days
International DHL delivery is available for an additional £75 including VAT
Please allow an additional one or two days for international DHL delivery
We will confirm the available option and likely timescale after reviewing your documents.
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Some destination countries require further legalisation through their embassy or consulate after notarisation or after a paper apostille has been obtained.
Requirements and charges vary considerably between countries and can change. We will confirm the likely process and obtain a separate quotation from our consular agents once the destination country and document requirements are known.
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The notary can explain the notarial procedure, identity requirements and likely apostille or legalisation process.
Advice about the underlying transaction, the meaning or legal effect of the document, or the law of another country should normally be obtained from a lawyer qualified in the relevant jurisdiction.
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Please send the document for review before arranging an appointment.
Depending on the document and the notary’s ability to understand it, a translation may be required. The receiving authority may also require the completed document or notarial certificate to be translated.
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Send us the documents, destination country, overseas instructions and deadline as soon as possible.
Urgent appointments and expedited paper apostille arrangements may be available, but they depend on the document, required checks, agent availability and the receiving country’s requirements.