Sydney's Public Notaries: Who Are They and What Do They Do? | CM Law Blog

There are times in your life when you'll be told that to finish the job, you'll need to see a Public Notary. But who is a Public Notary, and why can't you just see any old lawyer or solicitor in Sydney's inner west?

A Public Notary (also known as a Notary Public or simply a Notary) is a practising solicitor, with at least five years experience, who is appointed for life to the NSW Supreme Court. They are then given the power to oversee certain types of documents, administer oaths, and do a number of important administrative jobs both nationally and internationally.

When you get a document signed and stamped by a Public Notary it might not seem like all that big of a deal, but Public Notaries hold a great deal of power. That's why their stamps (or seals) and signatures are registered with the NSW Supreme Court as well as with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. So what documents will a Public Notary be signing and stamping for you?

You may find yourself needing a Public Notary if you need documents like:

• Powers of attorney
• Wills
• Deeds
• Contracts
• Affidavits
• Statutory declarations
• Other legal documents

Of course, a Public Notary's job isn't all about signing and stamping.

Other aspects of a Public Notary's job include:

• Attesting documents and confirming their contents are completed in Australia or overseas
• Administering oaths for Australian or international documents
• Confirming documents for use in Australia or internationally (as well as copies of these documents)
• Noting and protesting bills of exchange
• Preparing ships' protests
• Demonstrating documents for official use overseas

There is actually a lot that Public Notaries do and it's all very important to ensure that there are no legal hiccups in how Australia is run on a day-to-day basis, as well as how Australia interacts with foreign countries. Though, for the most part, you'll probably only be visiting the Public Notary for deeds, wills, and maybe a few contracts. It's important that when you do get in touch with a Public Notary that you treat them with the respect they deserve, they are part of the Supreme Court and you don't want to get yourself into trouble.