In countries following the Roman Law tradition, a Notary Public is an official licensed to authenticate signatures and documents and witness affidavits or statements of persons under oath. In Thailand, the Lawyers Council has provided lawyers with this role as Notarial Services Attorneys.
Many international business transactions require documents to be authenticated or legalized. At Baan Thai we offer this service, along with certified translations.
Legalization of Documents
In a world where business and legal matters are often conducted across borders, the authentication and legalization of documents is essential. These processes make sure that signatures and important documents are real, and that people who signed them understood what they were doing. A notary is an expert at this. They also verify that documents were signed in person and voluntarily. This is necessary for many visa applications, and it’s a great way to avoid disputes.
While Thailand doesn’t have a traditional notary public in Thailand like in some countries, the Lawyers Council does provide lawyers with an additional role called “Notarial Services Attorney.” These legal superheroes can do cool things like vouch for the authenticity of documents, affidavits, and signatures, as well as certify copies of official documents and translations.
They can also prepare a letter certified with your name and address, which is normally required by the Embassy when you apply for a passport or other documents that need to be couriered abroad. They can also help with a variety of other things, such as authenticating university degrees and other certificates that are not issued by a government agency, or legalizing a will. This is a process that requires two steps: first, the document needs to be authenticated, then it must be legalized at the Embassy of the country where you intend to use the document.
Certification of Name and Address
In most countries, a notary public is an official that the government trusts to authenticate documents like signatures or statements of persons under oath. They are also known to certify proof of address and verify the identity of a person. This is useful when you need to courier or send a document overseas because the person receiving it will want to ensure that the document is signed by the person they are expecting.
In Thailand, licensed lawyers can become a Notarial Services Attorney and provide notary services. They undergo special training and the Lawyers Council of Thailand is in charge of registration, licensing and supervision. These legal superheroes can vouch for the authenticity of documents and signatures, witness affidavits, verify identities, certify copies of official documents and translations. They can even certify the authenticity of a testament and will!
GAM Legal Alliance has a notary service attorney in Bangkok that can assist you with notarizing your documents. The notarized documents are certified as true and correct by the notary office and will be accepted by organizations and agencies abroad. Depending on the destination country, it may still require embassy or consular authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will advise you accordingly.
Authentication of Signatures and Documents
The purpose of a notary public is to authenticate signatures or documents. This means that the person signing the document is actually the person they say they are. This is very important for legal papers, as it helps prevent fraud. Documents that are not authenticated may not be accepted for official use.
For example, if you are applying for a visa or passport, you will need to have your signature authenticated by the notary public in order to submit it with your application. Similarly, if you are selling or buying real estate, you will need to have your property deeds and contracts authenticated by the notary public.
Documents that are not authenticated can be difficult or impossible to use in other countries. This is because many other countries require that documents have an Apostille attached before they are valid there. Unfortunately, Thailand is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so you will still need to have your documents authenticated before you can use them in Thailand.
If you need to have your documents notarized, it is best to contact a notary public or Notarial Services Attorney who has gone through an additional certification process and has been authorized by the Lawyers Council of Thailand. This will ensure that your notarized documents are acceptable in other countries.
Legalization of Birth Certificates
If you are planning to get married in Thailand, or have other documents that need to be verified, you will need a notary. Notaries are a special kind of lawyer who can verify signatures, affidavits, and statements made under oath. Notary services are also useful for international business and banking.
In many countries, notaries are public officers who authenticate a signature or document and are authorized to witness oaths. In Thailand, however, notaries are not public officials and their work is regulated by the Lawyers Council. Nevertheless, some lawyers have been given the green light by the council to act as notaries. They are called “Notarial Services Attorneys” and can be found in law firms and legal offices across the country.
Generally, a notary’s stamp is recognized worldwide. It proves that a signature is genuine and a statement made under oath is accurate. These are essential when submitting applications and dealing with foreign governments or businesses.
Some papers need to be notarized before being used in other countries, particularly if the person who signed them is not the original owner. The notary acts as a neutral witness and verifies the signature and other important details of the document. This includes university degrees, marriage certificates, birth certificates, non-criminal background checks, and corporate documents. We can help you find a qualified notary in Thailand that will make sure your papers are authentic.