A Notary or Notary Public is a person, often in England and Wales a Solicitor, having through additional qualifications and training been granted the capacity and power to act in legal transactions most frequently associated with foreign jurisdictions. The education, training, and appointment of candidates is supervised by the Master of the Court of Faculties. Following admission the Master regulates the professional practice of all Notaries and issues an annual Practising Certificate. The qualification of a Notary is internationally recognised. The acts of the Notary have special evidential status and weight abroad. The Notary often acts in a way that bridges any differences between the legal system of one nation with that of another so as to give lawful effect to transactions arranged amongst parties separated by distance and time.Notaries create records and preserve evidence of activities, agreements, transactions, and events. These processes are carried out for an individuals own purposes; between parties to a transaction for their joint needs; to satisfy the requirements of a public or judicial authority outside England and Wales; or as evidence for use in a foreign Court of Law. A Notary can also act as a Commissioner for Oaths.Routine legal transactions within England and Wales will not usually involve Notarial Services but a Notary may be asked to verify facts in some specialist banking and shipping dealings. Individuals and organisations in England and Wales usually only require a Notary in connection with legal services abroad arranged or to be transacted from here. An individual may need a Notary to assist in the formalities concerning the acquisition, management, or disposal of property abroad; in relation to marriage in a different jurisdiction; in dealing with the Estate of a deceased family member with foreign assets; or perhaps in connection with litigation in another country. Organisations may well have commercial and mercantile transactions to set up and conduct abroad; foreign trading disputes to arbitrate or litigate; patents, copyrights, and trademarks to record and internationally protect; or perhaps need business documents vouched in order to satisfy foreign government trading or fiscal requirements.
