ABOUT
Stephen Gordon qualified as a solictor in 1987 and then as a notary in 1992. Since September 2022 however he has operated purely as a notary.
Stephen has reprensented his profession as a council member of The Notaries Society for over 20 years and for 3 years between 2019 and 2022 held the highest position of President of The Notaries Society.
Having been an Executive Director and Head of the Business department of Banner Jones Solicitors, Stephen has a wealth of business knowledge to support his considerable experience of very diverse notarial matters.
Stephen Gordon as president of The Notaries Society at a legal ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
NOTARY
We offer a comprehensive and efficient notary service from a main office in Chesterfield to cover North Derybshire and South Yorkshire for both commercial businesses and private individuals.
A notary is an internationally recognised legal qualification which is required for legal documents to be accepted for use in foreign jurisdictions.
We advise that you read our guide before your appointment with Stephen Gordon as there are certain items, such as ID, that you will need to bring with you.
WHAT DOES A NOTARY DO?
A Notary's work involves the preparation and authentication of documents for use abroad regularly dealing with powers of attorney, property sales and timeshare transfer documents for private individuals and for businesses, the following frequently include:
- Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) for companies trading overseas
- Preparing and witnessing powers of attorney for use overseas (giving someone the right to act on your behalf)
- Witnessing the signing of an affidavit or statutory declaration by officers of a business
- Authenticating acts of a business entity/company abroad, including the setting up bank accounts, a satellite office, a company and/or partnership
- Authenticating the existence of an English business entity and its status particularly with regard to insolvency and administration
- Certifying and authenticating the authority of Directors, Partners, Members etc, of English business entities
- Witnessing or carrying out other operations relating to foreign bonds and debenture stock for a business
Stephen Gordon, was until retiring in 2022, a highly regarded Commercial Solicitor so he fully understands the legal needs and concerns of UK businesses trading overseas. Due to his commercial legal knowledge he is also able to ensure that you and your business fully understand the documentation being certified.
We provide a fast and efficient Notary Public service in Chesterfield and Sheffield at competitive rates. For a no obligation chat with Stephen Gordon (Chesterfield), please call 07770 447 111. The team will happily talk you through your requirements and confirm the price for the work. As part of our Notary service we will happily meet you at your business or at another convenient location to suit you.
PREPARING TO SEE A NOTARY
Although every case will be different, you will need to ensure:
- You make an appointment
- You bring evidence of your identity to the appointment, such as a current valid passport and/or driving licence and a recent utlity bill or bank statement with your name and address on it
- You understand any documents involved, particularly if it is not in English
- You bring any documents to the appointment that are relevant to the matter
LEGALISATION & APOSTILLE SERVICES
Once the documents have been authenticated by the notary, the documents frequently require that the notary's authentication is verified by the UK FCDO.
This is called an apostille, which is a stamp marked on the documents confirming they have been signed and sealed by the notary who is already registered with them. Certain countries require not just the Foreign Office legislation but also their own embassy to approve it, which can also be arranged by us.
A review of your documents will enable us to advise whether there are any additional apostille or embassy requirements.
To ensure the documents are processed promptly, we use a legislation agent in Milton Keynes where the apostilles are issued by the foreign office. We can also have a courier arranged to deliver the legalised documents directly to your office contact abroad.
TRANSLATION SERVICE
On occasion the documentation that needs to be Notarised may not be in English. If the document is in a different language, the Notary can organise for the document to be translated first.
This is important so that the Notary is confident that you understand the nature of the legal document that you are signing. Translations add further complexity into the matter so if there is a time constraint then please seek assistance as soon as possible.
WHAT IS THE COST?
The fee is calculated by the number of documents to be dealt with and the amount of time spent. A quotation will be provided in advance.
For more information, or to arrange an appointment with Stephen Gordon, call 07770 447 111 or email sg@notary-chesterfield.co.uk