Cristina Stamatescu - Practising Solicitor, Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths
A notary public is a public officer who serves the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with foreign or international business.
What do notaries public do?
Notaries certify the execution in their presence of a deed, a contract or other writing.
They can also verify some act or thing done in their presence. Among the things they do are:
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Authenticating documents
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Witnessing and proving signatures to documents
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Administering oaths
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Taking affidavits (other than for the courts in Ireland)
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Drawing up Powers of Attorney and other legal documents customarily prepared by notaries public
When am I likely to need the services of a notary public?
You are most likely to require a notary where you have to send papers or documents to a foreign jurisdiction.
You may require the services of a notary in relation to:
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Foreign adoption papers
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Affidavits for use in foreign courts
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Copies of State documents for use abroad
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International contracts
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Powers of Attorney
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/civil_law/notaries_public.html