Notaries are members of the third arm of the legal profession, alongside Solicitors and Barristers and indeed the oldest arm of the legal profession. Notaries are concerned, in the main, with the authentication of documents for use abroad. This authentication is called a "Notarial Act". Notary Crest Examples of Notarial Acts include the following: Notarising company documentation Notarising powers of attorney Witnessing the execution of documents Certifying passports Certifying degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc. Certifying marriage and birth certificates Notarising reports re. child adoption Preparing notarial certificates.

 Some countries require that a document be "legalised".

If the country is a party to the Hague Convention the document is signed and sealed by the Notary Public and is then brought to the Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2) to be "apostilled".

An apostille is a certificate verifying that the Notary’s signature and seal are genuine.

If the country is not a party to the Hague Convention the document is signed and sealed by the Notary Public, is then   brought to the Supreme Court Office, then to the Department of Foreign Affairs, then to the Embassy/Consulate for the   country in question.

For further details on the function of a Notary Public in Ireland, see the website for the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland, or contact our office.

Please note that you will be required to bring your passport and a utility bill when attending your appointment.