Cambridge Notary Fees 

1. Fees

Our present minimum fee for a brief matter is normally £75 + VAT, with an additional lesser fee for each additional document processed at the same time.

I reserve the right to vary the rate, particularly for extremely urgent, onerous, or unusual matters.

2. VAT

I am registered (as a notary) for VAT.

3. Disbursements

• Clients are responsible for all disbursements, including, where applicable:
• Legalisation fees payable to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and/or Embassies, etc.
• Translators'/interpreters' fees.
• Companies' registry fees.
  
• Agents' fees.
  
• Travelling expenses, where applicable.
  
• Couriers' and/or other transmission costs.

4. Payment

Notarial charges are normally payable upon signature/release of the notarised documentation, although subsequent work may remain to complete the matter.

5. Special Factors Affecting Fees

• Several factors may influence the fee rate, including:
• Complexity, difficulty, or novelty of the matter.
  
• Skill, labour, specialised knowledge, and responsibility involved.
  
• Time required.
  
• Number and importance of documents prepared or reviewed.
  
• Place and circumstances of business.
  
• Value of money or property involved.
  
• Importance of the matter to the client.
  
• Urgency, disruption, dislocation, or rearrangement of other work.
  
• Work undertaken outside office hours.

6. Place of Attendance

Your personal attendance at my office is usually essential where my photocopying and secretarial facilities are available. In exceptional cases, such as incapacity, special arrangements can be made for attendance at your location, but this inevitably increases time and expense.

7. Time Requirements

One appointment is often sufficient, but additional meetings may be necessary depending on the details that emerge during the appointment. In urgent cases, further meetings may occur on the same day.

8. Time Charge

• Time charges apply to all work undertaken, including:
• Taking preliminary details and giving advice.
• Preparing and drafting documents.
• Attendances, phone calls, and correspondence.
• Faxing, legalisation, and final work.
• Writing up the Notarial Register and Protocol.

9. Preparation

Preparation includes:

• Consideration, drafting, and engrossment of documents before, during, or after interviews.
• Checking and handling:
• Instructions accompanying the documents.
• Missing data.
• Accuracy of names/addresses and variations.
• Special requirements/formalities of the foreign country.
• Obtaining all requisite verifications.

10. Urgency Considerations

Urgency and expense must not override essential accuracy and validity.

11. Your Own Professional Advisers

Please consider the following before proceeding, have you sought advice from:

• Your English lawyer(s)?
• Relevant foreign lawyer(s)?
• Other competent professional advisers, locally or abroad?
• Are you taking a risk by relying on documents prepared by another party without independent legal advice?
• Do you expect the notary to provide this legal advice?
• Are you attempting to save time and/or money by cutting corners?

12. Comparative Fees

If you have previously attended an English notary, you may have been charged less. However, times and standards have changed. My fees reflect the recommendations of the Notaries' Society, which advises that notaries are not required to charge the same amount for similar work.

13. Standards

Notaries must follow internationally recognised and acceptable procedures. UK professional requirements have become more stringent due to the assimilation of European notarial standards and global developments in notarial practice.

14. Stringent Responsibilities

Notaries must ensure compliance with and proof of the following:

• Your identity.
  
• Your legal capacity/authority.
  
• Your comprehension and approval.
  
• Interpretation/translation accuracy.
  
• Documentary objectives.
  
• Form and substance validity.
  
• Voluntary act/undue influence.
  
• Prescribed formalities (domestic and international).
  
• Due signature(s).
  
• Proper witnessing.
  
• Observance of formalities required by relevant authorities.
  
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office and/or Consular legalisation.

15. Recipient's Requirements

If a foreign authority requires documents to be notarised, they will not accept anything less. Attempting shortcuts will likely lead to rejection.

16. Risk of Rejection

Failure to follow proper procedures may result in document rejection by the recipient country or authority. This could lead to additional costs, delays, and missed deadlines or contracts.

17. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and/or Consular Legalisation

Some countries require notarised documents to receive further certification, usually termed "an Apostille," from the FCDO or legalisation by a relevant High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate.

• The FCDO charges a fee per document for legalisation.
• Consular legalisation fees vary by country.
  
• For up-to-date information, visit the FCDO Legalisation Department Website.

18. Register & Protocol

Once the matter is concluded:

• A formal register entry is made as a permanent record.
  
• A protocol copy of the notarised documentation is customarily kept.
  
• In some cases, a fully executed set of duplicate originals is advisable.
  
• Occasionally, the notary may retain the original and issue a certified copy.