A Notary Public is a government-approved official who authenticates documents and signatures. A Notary is a great safeguard for legal documents like a passport, title deeds and affidavits.
Unlike many countries, Thailand does not have Notaries Public, instead they are called “Notarial Services Attorney.” Lawyers who pass the licensing assessment set by the Lawyers Council can act as Notary.
Legalization of Documents
In most countries, the state officially commissions a notary public to authenticate documents, verify signatures and other information on legal documents such as affidavits or sworn statements. These notaries act as ministerial officials and are expected to follow written rules rather than exercise significant personal judgment like a judicial official would.
In Thailand, the Lawyers Council has a system that lets certain lawyers perform authentication services regulated by its law. These are called Notarial Services Attorneys and they must undergo a special training course and pass an exam to earn the title.
Konrad Legal assists clients with the entire procedure of legalization in Thailand for various types of documents including but not limited to Power of Attorney in Thailand, Birth and Death Certificates, Divorce Rulings, Police Reports and Revenue Department Tax Documents. The final step is to have the documents legalized at the Embassy of the country where they are to be used. This requires a special process with many steps to get your documents ready for the embassy.
Attestation of Documents
Documents that are signed in Thailand often need to be certified by a notary public before they can be used abroad. This is especially true if the documents are to be couriered or sent to an embassy in another country. Notaries are well-known in the United States and Europe, but they’re less common in Thailand. However, there are still a number of reasons that you might need a notary’s services in Thailand.
Around 5,000 Thai lawyers have received a certificate from the Lawyers Council allowing them to act as notaries under certain conditions. This means that they can verify signatures and documents, but they cannot administer oaths or be bonded like notaries in other countries.
The main function of a notary is to check whether or not documents are real. They can also verify the identity of individuals signing a document. This can be very useful in cases where a person needs to prove their identity, such as when applying for a passport.
Verification of Documents
If you have signed documents that you need to courier to overseas for business or personal purposes, your recipient may ask you to get your signature certified by a Notary Public. Similarly, some countries require you to certify your Wills and Testament with a Notary Public in order to confirm that you intend to leave your estate to the beneficiary.
In countries that use common law, Notaries verify signatures and affidavits, certify copies of documents, administer oaths, verify addresses, and provide accurate translations. In Thailand, Notary services are provided by Notarial Services Attorneys that are regulated under the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528.
The roles of Notaries in Europe and the United States are similar to those in Thailand, though they may not have the same responsibilities. Regardless of the specific jurisdiction, Notaries are widely recognized as a trusted official that authenticates documents like signatures or statements made under oath. A Notary can also sign and affix a seal to ensure the integrity of the document for international use.
Seal of Authenticity
Most countries have a notary public to provide authentication services for legal documents, affidavits and signatures under oath. In Thailand, the Lawyers Council of Thailand gives certain attorneys a role called “Notarial Services Attorney” allowing them to perform authentication services regulated under The Lawyers Act.
These lawyers are able to check if documents are authentic, verify the identities of people involved in the document and act as witnesses. They can also provide certification and attestation to legal stuff that will be couriered abroad for business or immigration purposes.
Documents we commonly notarize include passport copies and ID cards; academic qualifications or certificates; criminal background checks; foundational company documents like the Memorandum of Association; property documentation for international transfer; and power of attorneys for overseas use. Some documents also require further authentication or legalization by the destination country’s embassy or consulate. These steps usually make the document acceptable to be used in that country. This is known as the process of legalization.