Jean-Paul da Costa

Public Notary London

Welcome to Jean-Paul da Costa, Public Notary London.

Jean-Paul da Costa is a Pubic Notary based in Central London, that acts for clients both in England and Internationally.

We can help you to get your documents quickly and efficiently notarised, legalised and apostilled for use in any country around the world. As part of our notarial service we can also arrange for documents to be professionally translated into almost any language. 

Whether you are a business or individual looking for a first class and professional service we are here to meet your needs, and help navigate you through what can be a complex process.

Contact Me

Jean-Paul da Costa
Public Notary
4th Floor
1-3 Pemberton Row
London EC4A 3BG, 
England
Email: jeanpaul.dacosta@sherrards.com
Telephone: +44 207478 9010

Frequently Asked Questions

Documents in a foreign language

What identification does a Public Notary require?

How much will it cost?

Process Agents

What services does a Public Notary Provide?

A Notary, or Public Notary, can authenticate or witness most documents. A Notary can also arrange the legalisation or Apostille of documents, if needed. You will often require the services of a Notary when you have documents which need to be used in a different country. The Notary's signature and seal will verify to the authorities in that country that any relevant checks have been carried out and that the document has been properly signed, or that it is a genuine copy of the original

If a document requiring notarisation needs to be in a foreign language it may be necessary for the document to be translated by an officially recognised translator, who will then have to sign a declaration certifying that it is a true translation.

We work with officially recognised legal translators that can professionally translated documents into almost any language, and are recognised by the embassies and consulates in the UK. 

In some cases the Notary may be satisfied to fix their seal of office and signature on documents in a foreign language if they are fully satisfied that the person signing is conversant with the language of the document. 

Under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 we are required to keep sufficient evidence on our files of the identity and the address of all clients before we undertake any notarial work.

Each person whose signature we certify must provide us with one of the following original identification documents at the time of the appointment.

  • Passport 

  • National identity card (European Union countries only)

  • UK Photo Driving licence

  • UK armed forces pass (with photo and signature) 

In addition, we require proof of residence in the last 3 months, which can be one of the following original documents:

  • Bank statement or letter from bank

  • Utility bill or council tax bill (not mobile phone bill) 

  • Tenancy agreement

  • Inland Revenue tax demand 

When we act for a corporate client, evidence of the due incorporation of the company or entity is required. This can be one of the following documents:

  • Certificate of incorporation 

  • Extract from the company register 

  • Latest report and audited accounts 

  • Up to date certified copy of partnership agreement 

  • Evidence of being regulated by a regulatory body such as the Law Society or FSA. 

In addition to the above, each individual signatory will need to produce one of the identification documents mentioned above.

Every matter is different, however an early indication of the cost will usually be given to you before any work is carried out, but so that we can establish the charges please tell us the following: 

  • What service you need - witnessing signatures, certifying copy documents, obtaining Apostille etc?

  • The type of documents concerned - for instance is it a Power of Attorney that you need witnessing?

  • Which country is it for?

  • Who is signing or presenting the documents - are they personal papers or for a company/business?

  • How many documents are there?

Overseas parties to contracts governed by English law are often required to appoint an agent in England and Wales to accept service of legal process on their behalf, and we are able to offer a cost-effective and tailored solution for clients requiring a Process Agent in England.

What is the difference between a Public Notary and a solicitor?

Notaries form a small, highly specialised branch of the legal profession, whose area of specialisation is the preparation and certification of documents so that they may be used effectively abroad. There are notaries in every country in the world.

Solicitors form by far the largest part of the legal profession in England. They provide advice and representation to their clients on a wide variety of legal issues. Although solicitors can witness documents and certify copies, their signature on documents for use internationally may not be recognised in other countries, which is why a client wanting their document authenticated for use in another country will normally get this done by a Notary.

One important difference between a Notary and a solicitor is that whereas a solicitor's primary duty is to his client, the Notary's primary duty is to the transaction and the authenticity of the document. As Notaries are recognised worldwide, they have to maintain absolute integrity and impartiality to maintain the standing of the notarial profession.

What is Legalisation and Apostille?

Many countries require notarised documents to be legalised. Legalisation is a double check to make sure that the Notary's signature is genuine and recognised internationally. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the British Government is responsible to do this in the United Kingdom. Once the authenticity of the Notary’s signature is confirmed a certificate is attached to the document called an "Apostille".

Documents may also need to be checked by a foreign embassy or consulate to make sure that the Notary's signature matches the one on their records and the Apostille has been properly applied. The requirement for this will depend on the foreign country in which the document is to be used. 

“It is only thanks to you that I will be able to meet the deadline. I am truly thankful for all your concern. We were very impressed by your work and kind attention.”

– Fernanda

Get in Touch

To discuss your requirements, to obtain a quotation or to arrange an appointment, Please contact me on jeanpaul.dacosta@sherrards.com or telephone +442074789010, or click the button below to send us a message