A notary public is an official licensed by a state to authenticate documents, witness affidavits, and administer oaths. In addition, notaries certify copies by comparing them to the original document and adding their official seal.
For business and immigration purposes, having your documents notarized can be a lifesaver. But how do you know that you’re getting reliable service?
Authentication of Documents
Documents are an integral part of our lives and are used for a variety of purposes. From business transactions to educational pursuits and even personal matters such as marriage or immigration, documents are essential for a successful outcome. However, for documents to be considered legally recognized across international borders they need to undergo the authentication and legalization process.
In most countries, a Notary Public is an official that the state government recognizes to authenticate legal documents and signatures, witness affidavits or statements of individuals under oath, and confirm titles deeds. In Thailand, this role is performed by Notarial Services Attorneys who are designated with this role and regulated under the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
Because Thailand is not a member of the Hague Convention and does not have an apostille system, in order for documents to be legally recognized abroad they must be legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This can be a time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience and understanding of the different processes in order to make sure your documents will work in the country you need them for.
Verification of Identity
Notarized documents are used by many different institutions in Thailand including banks, embassies, schools and even private individuals. These types of documents are often required to be authenticated or legalized for use outside of Thailand. This is done by the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be presented.
A notary public is a public official commissioned by the state government to perform authentication services, also known as notarizations. Notaries are regarded as ministerial officials and as such, they are expected to follow the rules without exercising significant personal discretion like judicial officials would.
Typically, notaries are lawyers that have been approved by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to perform authentication services. The notaries can verify the identity of a person, witness signings of documents, and administer oaths. Authentications are also needed for couriering signed documents abroad, and to certify a will or testament. The verification of the signature can help in preventing fraudulent acts.
Certification of Copies
Notaries certify copies of documents by witnessing the original document and the signer. The notary’s seal is then applied to the document. This is used when a copy is to be presented to a third party or submitted to another country such as an embassy for legalization.
A Notary Public can also authenticate affidavits or statements of persons under oath and witness the signing of documents and signatures. These functions are not regulated in Thailand. Currently, around 4,000 Thai lawyers have received a certificate and registered themselves as “notarial services attorneys” under the regulation released by the Lawyers Council in 2008.
G.A.M. Legal Alliance can provide a notary service and can help you with any documentation you may require to be authenticated/certified. We can prepare and authenticate a wide range of documents such as: bank statements, land title deeds, contracts, power of attorney and other documentation required for use abroad or submission to embassies for legalization.
Legal Authority
Notaries authenticate signatures and verify the authenticity of a document. They also record statements of individuals made under oath for legal processes and documentation. This helps in preventing fraud and other malpractices. Notaries are also required by some countries to ensure that the person who signs a document is the same individual who is identified through government-issued identification.
If you are planning to courier any documents abroad for business or personal reasons, it is advisable that you get them notarized as it will give the added validity and reliability. This is because most countries require documents to be notarized before they can be legally used or recognized by the respective government authority.
Although Thailand does not have a formal Notary Public system, lawyers can perform the function by enrolling in a special course provided by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to become a Notarial Services Attorney. A notarial services attorney is a registered lawyer who is qualified to witness and authenticate signatures, documents, or oaths/affirmations.
