Jon Coles, who is a director at Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles, is a rare breed in the legal world – he is what is known as a Public Notary.

He is one of around 700 notaries in England and Wales, compared to more than 140,000 practising solicitors and 16,000 barristers.

The role is concerned with the authentication and certification of signed documents for use outside the UK.

Jon said: “My clients can be individuals or businesses who have to deal with the requirements of foreign jurisdictions.”

“My work can be quite varied where, for example, I can help an individual who needs documents notarised for a property he is selling in Spain, to notarising paperwork for a company setting up an office in Dubai.”

The work sometimes requires some quick thinking to understand what is needed and how best to deal with the requirements of the client, along with that of the jurisdiction where the document is going to be used.

“For example, the Chinese Embassy in London will reject any document that mentions the name of Taiwan,” said Jon.

“It is certainly very easy to fall foul of each jurisdiction’s particular requirements.”

Coronavirus

Fortunately, in many cases Jon is able to assist with notarial requirements remotely, while our Town Gate office is closed for visitors.

For those that require a face-to-face meeting, Jon can assist on a case by case basis, while adhering to strict coronavirus precautions.

He is willing to see clients at his home, as long as they stay in their cars.

Fees for individuals start from £175 plus VAT and for companies £250 plus VAT.

The minimum call-out charge for individuals is £250 plus VAT and for companies £325 plus VAT.

Please contact Jon directly by calling 01256 845852 or send him an email to [email protected]

Disclaimer

This article is current at the date of publication set out above and is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.