In most countries, a Notary Public is an official appointed by the government to authenticate legal documents, signatures or statements of persons under oath. Expatriates often need such services when couriering documents to the embassy for use abroad.
However, Thailand does not have a standalone official position titled “Notary Public”. Instead, the Lawyers Council of Thailand assigns accredited attorneys to function as Notarial Services Attorneys and perform authentication services regulated under the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528.
Definition
Authentication of legal documents is a crucial step in any cross-border business transaction or legal proceedings. It ensures the authenticity of the signatures and adds a level of legitimacy that is recognized internationally. However, this process can be complex and requires thorough knowledge of the law and procedure. Moreover, some documents might require further authentication or legalization to meet requirements in foreign countries, such as the Hague Convention on Apostilles or specific requests from embassies. H&P lawyers have extensive experience in notarization services and can help you navigate the process.
In most countries, a Notary Public is an official the government recognizes to witness and authenticate legal documents, signatures, affidavits, or statements of individuals under oath. In Thailand, GAM Legal Alliance works with Notarial Services Attorneys (NSA) accredited by the Lawyers Council to perform authentication services regulated under the Law Firm Act B.E. 2528.
Expatriates often seek these services to verify important documents like their marriage certificates or passports for immigration purposes, real estate transactions, and other legal affairs. When a person presents a document for notarization, the Notary Public verifies their identity through government-issued identification and witnesses the signing of the document. They then affix their seal and signature to the document and issue a notarial certificate that contains all the relevant details of the document and its signing.
Functions
In most countries, the state officially licenses notaries to authenticate signatures and documents, as well as witness affidavits or statements made under oath. In Thailand, however, there is no official notary public; instead, specific lawyers are designated with the role of Notarial Services Attorney by the Lawyers Council to perform authentication services regulated by the law.
When a document is signed in the presence of a notary, they verify the signatories’ identities through government-issued identification and witnesses their signatures before applying their seal and signature. They can also administer oaths and affirmations, which are essential for many legal cases. Expatriates often use notary services to verify and authenticate their documents as part of immigration or visa processes, and businesses often utilize them for business transactions.
Notary public services are crucial for both domestic and international transactions, as they ensure that documents are genuine and valid by verifying signatures and administering oaths. A notarized document is recognized as legally authentic in other jurisdictions and can be used as evidence in a court of law. Documents that require notarization include power of attorney in Thailand, affidavits, and other legal documents with cross-border implications. In addition, notarized documents are typically required by banks and embassy offices for overseas dealings. For this reason, it is important to know how to find the right notary service for your needs.
Requirements
A notary public is a government official that authenticates documents, signatures, or statements of individuals under oath. The notary public also verifies that the person signing the document is doing so voluntarily and freely, while being aware of the implications of their actions. Notarization is commonly used for visa applications, business transactions, property deals, legal proceedings, and other matters requiring submission to foreign agencies.
While Thailand does not have an official notary public, a number of Thai lawyers have been granted the title Notarial Services Attorney by the Lawyers Council to enable them to perform authentication services regulated by the Law Firm Act. These attorneys have undergone a specific course of professional training to be able to verify and verify signatures, administer oaths, and certify copies of documents.
When a person seeks to have a document notarized for use abroad, it is typically necessary that they appear in person before the Notarial Services Attorney and sign in their presence. The notary will then prepare a certificate that includes their seal and signature to affirm the authenticity of the document. This certificate will then need to be verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the corresponding foreign embassy or consulate in accordance with the requirements of the destination country. The MFA and Consular sections of foreign embassies in Bangkok can provide limited notarial services for their citizens.
Certification
Authentication of documents and signatures by a Notary Public is a crucial part of the legal process. It serves as a guarantee that the document is genuine, making it an important component for international transactions and supporting foreign-language legal proceedings. Notaries also help to prevent fraud by verifying the identity of signatories. They are responsible for administering oaths and affirmations as well as certifying the validity of documents.
In most countries, a notary is an official who is licensed by the state to authenticate signatures or documents and witness affidavits or statements of persons under oath. GAM Legal Alliance’s Thailand notary service is provided by lawyers who have been certified to perform authentication services regulated under Thai law as Notarial Services Attorneys by the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
Notarized documents are typically required when sending any document abroad, especially when it is related to immigration or travel. Notarized documents can be used for a variety of purposes, including visa applications and employment verifications. They can also be submitted for legalization by foreign institutions or embassies.
