The office of Notary can be traced back to Ancient Rome. Until as recently as 1985, Notaries in NSW were appointed by the Pope by delegation to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

 

In England, a Notary can only be appointed after a long apprenticeship with a senior Notary or Solicitor. The Office of Notary in the City of London is a specialist occupation.

 

A Notary Public is an officer who can administer oaths and statutory declarations and authenticate documents for use in legal matters in Australia and overseas. Other functions are determined by the jurisdiction where the Notary practises. Notaries are sometimes referred to as internationally recognised solicitors.

 

In NSW Notaries are appointed by the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the Legal Profession Admission Board. Appointment is only available to solicitors with at least seven years experience following successful completion of a course of instruction.

 

Where a Notary authenticates documents, he or she impresses his or her official seal on the document and countersigns it. The document is then accepted in other places outside Australia. For verification purposes, a register is kept at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the consulates of overseas embassies, as notified by the individual Notary.

 

In addition to witnessing and authenticating documents, a Notary is also able to note a ‘Ships Protest’ – that is, record events which led to a collision at sea or other maritime incident including disputes with the Masters of ships. A Notary can also provide a facility for noting and protesting bills of exchange.