Notary Public Sydney
Sydney CBD | Brighton Le Sands | Marrickville
Need a notary or apostille service?
Book now!
Prefer personalised help?
Schedule a Consultation
About us
Who we are
We are a notary public (Sydney CBD) firm appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW.
We are also lawyers in legal practice and patent & trade mark attorneys in intellectual property practice.
What we do
As notaries we help with authenticating documents, witnessing execution of documents, certifying copies of original documents, administering oaths, and performing other useful administrative functions of a national and international nature, including applying notary seals and certificates to documents and ribboning.
Our notary functions with personal or corporate documents typically are for use overseas.
We also can help with the legalisation process of notarised documents if required to meet the requirements of foreign jurisdictions/bodies for use abroad.
If you need more information about who we are and what we do then visit our SAMPARK & CO IP LAWYERS corporate website at www.spco.au
Other websites belonging to the SAMPARK & CO IP LAWYERS group can be found at | www.patentau.com | www.designsau.com | www.trademarkau.com | www.apostilleau.com
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Contact us
Contact Details
Contact us now to complete your notary requirements.
SAMPARK & CO
King George Chambers
Suite 415, 375 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
+61 2 9299 7731
Or if you prefer you can send us a message!
Current Sydney Time
Sydney Time Zone
Office Hours
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm | Sydney time, excluding Australian and NSW public holidays.
Our office is presently !
However our office may be open outside business hours by appointment or we can provide an out of office service if required.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Locations
Our Locations
In addition to our Sydney CBD location we have a visiting service by appointment at Brighton Le Sands and Marrickville.
However if a home visit or other location is required please call us to discuss your requirements as we can provide an out of office notary service.
Our location | Sydney CBD
Sydney CBD
SAMPARK & CO
Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys
IP Lawyers | Notaries
King George Chambers
Suite 415, 375 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Click map to zoom!
Our location | Brighton Le Sands
Our Visiting Service | Brighton Le Sands
Novotel Brighton-Le-Sands
The Grand Parade (lobby entrance is Princess Street)
Brighton-Le-Sands NSW 2216 Australia
Click map to zoom!
Our location | Marrickville
Our Visiting Service | Marrickville
Marrickville Library and Pavilion
313 Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204 Australia
Click map to zoom!
We can come to you!
We can come to you!
We can arrange an out of office notary service at your home or other location if required should you not be able to come to our office for an appointment.
However please note we have an established visiting service in addition to our Sydney CBD location at Brighton Le Sands and Marrickville.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!
Message us
FAQ
What is a notary?
What is a Notary Public in NSW?
A Notary Public in NSW is a qualified legal professional appointed by the Supreme Court to verify documents and signatures. They play a important role in ensuring the authenticity of documents intended for use overseas.
What do Notaries Public do?
Witnessing Signatures: Notaries verify your identity and witness you signing important documents. This adds credibility and reduces the risk of fraud.
Verifying Document Authenticity: Notaries can verify the authenticity of original documents or confirm that copies are true reproductions. This is essential for documents used in foreign countries where they may not be familiar with the original source.
Why are Notaries Public Important?
Many countries require documents to be notarised for them to be legally recognised. A notary public ensures your documents meet these requirements, avoiding delays or complications when used abroad.
Who can be a Notary Public?
In NSW, only lawyers who meet specific criteria are appointed as Notary Publics by the Supreme Court. This ensures they have the necessary legal expertise and qualifications.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!What is notarisation?
What is notarisation?
Notarisation is a formal process that verifies documents for use abroad or in certain legal situations. A Notary Public, a qualified legal professional, performs various acts on your documents to ensure their authenticity and credibility.
What does notarisation involve?
The most common notary acts include:
1 | Witnessing signatures. A Notary verifies your identity and watches you sign important documents. This adds an extra layer of security to prevent fraud.
2 | Certifying Copies. Need to send a copy of a document (like a passport or transcript) but don't want to risk the original? A Notary can verify the copy is a true reflection of the original document.
3 | Authenticating documents.Some documents issued electronically or from foreign sources may require verification. A Notary can confirm the document's legitimacy.
Why is notarisation important?
Many countries and institutions require notarisation for documents to be legally recognised. It ensures your documents are accepted without delays or issues.
Who determines what type of notarisation is needed?
The requesting party (e.g., government agency, school) usually specifies the type of notarisation needed. It's important to follow their exact instructions to avoid rejection.
What if the notarisation instructions are unclear?
Don't hesitate to clarify any doubts with the requesting party. Getting the right type of notarisation is crucial to avoid delays or having your documents rejected.
Can you help with the process?
Absolutely! We can help determine the necessary steps (notarisation or legalisation) and even schedule a consultation to guide you further.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!How long does notarisation take?
How long does notarisation take?
The timeframe depends on the complexity of the notary service needed.
Simple notary services such as providing certified copies or witnessing the signing of documents generally can be completed during the notary appointment if you send us the necessary documents in advance.
Complex notary services such as authenticating a document (e.g. ASIC documents, VISA or immigration status, academic certificates or records, employment histories, electronically issued documents) may require additional steps and the cooperation of 3rd parties or their systems and can take 1-5 business days, sometimes longer.
How to expedite your appointment?
Provide documents beforehand: Sending copies and details in advance allows the notary to prepare, minimizing your appointment time.
Communicate clearly: Let the notary know what service you need to avoid unnecessary delays.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!View sample notary certificates
For illustration purposes examples of notary certificates can be viewed or downloaded from the following dropdown panels.
A notary certificate is applied by printing or stamping it directly on the document or as a separate page that is fixed to the document.
We may fix a certificate to a document by a stapling process or it may be bound to the document by a ribboning process terminated by an adhesive seal.
View notary certificate certifying a document copy
Notary certificate for a document copy
Here is a sample notary certificate applied by us certifying a copy of a document.
After examining the original document and we have satisfied ourselves it has not been altered we make a copy, complete the notary certificate and then apply our signature and embossing notary seal to the certificate and document.
Click image to view | download!
View notary certificate witnessing a signature
Notary certificate for witnessing a signature
Here is a sample notary certificate applied by us certifying witnessing the signing of a document.
After satisfying ourselves as to the identity of the proposed signatory using acceptable original photo identification documents such as a passport and preferably a drivers license we witness the signing of the document, complete the notary certificate and then apply our signature and embossing notary seal to the certificate and document.
Click image to view | download!
View notary certificate verifying the authenticity of a document
Notary certificate for verification of authenticity of a document
Here is a sample notary certificate applied by us certifying that we have verified the authenticity of a document.
After satisfying ourselves as to the authenticity of the document presented to us with the person | body that issued the document we complete the notary certificate and then apply our signature and embossing notary seal to the certificate and document.
Click image to view | download!
What is legalisation/apostille?
What is legalisation?
In some instances notarised documents that are to be used abroad are required by the recipient to be legalised before they will be accepted by the recipient as being validly effective legal documents.
Subject to the recipient country, the legalisation process is either a consular/embassy process or it is merely a simpler Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) process.
Notarisation | Legalisation
It must be noted that notarisation is a separate process to legalisation.
Notarisation is undertaken by a notary, and legalisation of the notarised documents is undertaken by DFAT and possibly the consulate/embassy in Australia of the recipient country.
Notaries can complete the legalisation process on behalf of a client if required by attending to the DFAT and consulate/embassy steps as required as an additional service to notarisation.
Legalisation via the consular/embassy process
The consular/embassy legalisation process of notarised documents involves two principal steps.
The first step requires the notarised documents to be submitted to DFAT for an authentication certificate.
DFAT will asses the notary certificate and if in order will apply their own certificate to the notarised documents, this is referred to as an authentication certificate.
The authentication certificate may be a physical certificate or it may be a stamped certificate with a signature or something similar.
The second step requires the notarised documents with the attached DFAT authentication certificate to be submitted to the relevant foreign consulate or embassy in Australia of the recipient country.
The consulate/embassy will complete the legalisation process by verifying the DFAT authentication certificate as being valid by applying their own authentication certificate to the notarised documents.
The consulate/embassy certificate may be a physical certificate or it may be a stamped certificate with a signature or something similar.
Legalisation via the apostille process
Some countries, members of the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) have replaced the requirement of the legalisation of documents via the two step consular/embassy process by a simpler one step legalisation process known as a apostille process.
The apostille process removes the involvement of the relevant foreign consulate/embassy in the legalisation process.
The apostille process requires the notarised documents to be submitted to DFAT for an apostille certificate.
DFAT will asses the notary certificate and if in order will apply their own certificate to the notarised documents, this is referred to as an apostille certificate (or apostille).
The apostille certificate may be a physical certificate or it may be a stamped certificate with a signature or something similar.
A notarised document with an apostille certificate will be accepted as a legalised document for the purposes of countries that have adopted the legalisation of documents via the apostille process.
Apostille Convention Countries
A list of countries that are party to the HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention can be viewed here: 1961 Apostille Convention Countries.
Therefore if you require us to also attend to the legalisation of the notarised documents then we will need to know which country the notarised documents will be used as that will determine whether we seek an apostille or authentication certificate for the notarised documents from DFAT.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Is legalisation required?
Is legalisation required?
To avoid any doubt about whether legalisation is required for its intended purpose, your instructor requesting the document (‘the instructor’) should know and expressly specify whether legalisation of the documents is required, and if required, whether consulate/embassy legalisation is required or an apostille process is required to meet the requirements of the recipient country.
The consulate/embassy in Australia of the recipient country may also be able specify which of consulate/embassy legalisation or an apostille legalisation process is required to meet the legal requirements in the recipient country.
A notary is not in a position to know if legalisation of the notarised documents is required until the notary has had an opportunity to peruse the instructions you were given by the instructor.
If the instructions are unclear then clarification must be obtained from the instructor as legalisation may be a completely unnecessary additional expense or the legalisation steps undertaken may not meet the requirements of the recipient country/organisation.
In any event the onus is on the instructor to clearly state the legalisation steps that are required to satisfy the requirements of the recipient county/organisation however we can on your behalf consult your instructor if required as an additional service.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!How long does it take to obtain an apostille / authentication from DFAT?
The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) is the sole authority for issuing apostilles and authentications. The time frame to obtain an apostille / authentication from DFAT can significantly vary from several business days to a few weeks.
We understand the importance of obtaining a DFAT apostille / authentication quickly, so we offer a fast-track service in addition to our standard service where we can obtain the DFAT apostille/authentication in as little as 3 business days. This way you can receive your finalised documents quickly and with certainty and avoid the uncertainties in dealing with DFAT and it's process delays.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!What does a DFAT apostille | authentication certificate contain?
Select following to view sample legalisation certificates issued by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
View sample DFAT apostille certificate
Sample apostille
Here is a sample apostille that would be applied to the relevant documents by DFAT.
DFAT assigns a unique registration number to each apostille it issues and for those issued on or after 14 December 2015 the Australian apostille can be publicly verified online if required.
Click image to view | download!
View sample DFAT authentication certificate
Sample authentication
Here is a sample authentication stamp that would be applied to the relevant documents by DFAT.
Click image to view | download!
Collapse all info windows!
Do I need an appointment to see a notary?
Our notaries are in legal practice so an appointment is recommended to see a notary to ensure availability and to ensure you are suitably prepared for the appointment and minimise your costs.
You can book an appointment for consultation or service here!
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Can I have an urgent appointment?
We may be able to provide an urgent appointment to see a notary however additional charges may apply for that additional service.
However some services require the engagement of outside bodies (public and private) such as DFAT, consulates, educational institutions, registries, employers and the like. In such cases, urgency requests will be subject to the availability and cooperation of such external bodies.
If you have an urgent request contact us now to discuss your requirements.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Can I have an after hours appointment?
We can provide an after hours appointment however additional charges may apply for that additional service.
If you require an after hours appointment contact us now to discuss your requirements.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Can I have an out of office appointment?
We can provide an out of office appointment at a place of your convenience however travel and waiting charges generally apply for this additional service.
If you require an out of office appointment contact us now to discuss your requirements.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!How much does it cost to notarise my document(s)?
The cost to notarise one or more documents depends on the notary service requested and other services required by necessity before providing the notary service.
Our fees for various notary and legalisation services can be viewed at Schedule Of Fees
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!How can I minimise my costs?
If you’re looking to minimise your notary costs, there are steps you can take within your control. Here’s how:
Clearly understand your notary requirements by:
1 | carefully reviewing the instructions you were given by the person (such as your instructor) asking you to go see a notary; and or
2 | seeking clarification from your instructor if needed; and or
3 | explore the frequently asked questions (FAQ's) and other information on this website for additional clarity.
4 | book a consultation with a notary herein to help you identify your notary requirements if required.
Book an appointment for the specific notary services you require once you are clear on your requirements.
Prepare for the service appointment by carefully reviewing the information we send related to the requested notary services as this will help you be prepared for the appointment.
Send us all the documents (pdf, jpg) we request in advance of the appointment in good time for the appointment. If you send documents as print quality (i.e. high quality) we can efficiently prepare necessary documents and notary certificates without the need to manipulate the sent documents or scan the originals as an additional service and possibly cost.
Bring original documents that we have requested to the appointment otherwise you may need to book a return appointment to complete your notary requirements.
Be punctual at your appointment.
Collapse info window! Collapse all info windows!Schedule of Fees
Foreign Consulates
Foreign Consulates in NSW
Details Of Consulates in NSW
Click following alphabetic panels to show countries.
Click country to show consulate location and contact details.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
T
U
V
SAMPARK & CO Group
Need professional help to understand your notary requirements?
Book your consultation with a notary!