I've just got permission from the Notaries Society to use their rather splendid shield on my website.
The motto "Veritatem Testamus" sums up the role of the notary very succinctly - "We attest to the truth." International law recognises as true all those matters set out in a notary's certificate - in other words "if a notary says it's true, it's true!"
This principle is stated in rather more legal language in Part 32.20 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998: “A Notarial Act or instrument may be received in evidence without further proof as duly authenticated in accordance with the requirements of the law unless the contrary is proved.”
This is a matter that the notary does not take lightly. When a document is prepared by and executed before a notary he makes himself responsible for the authenticity of its content in all respects save any that he may identify by a qualification in his certificate. The notary is required to investigate all the facts and information contained in the document. As part of his authentication of the capacity and the will of the signing party he must also satisfy himself as to the party’s understanding of the content and effect of the document at the time that it is being completed. It will be appreciated that this is no small burden of responsibility, but it does demonstrate why notarial acts are accepted in evidence without challenge.
Neil Oakes
Notary Public
