The function of a Notary Public is to draw up and authenticate documents, administer oaths, attest and witness execution of documents, verify copies of documents and noting bills of exchange.
Whilst a Solicitor or Justice of the Peace can carry out most of these functions, these are not recognised overseas and the majority of overseas countries will only recognise a Notary Public. For the purposes of authentication, most countries require commercial or personal documents that originate from or are signed in another country to be notarized before they can be used or officially recorded or before they can have any legal effect.
In New South Wales, the Supreme Court appoints persons as a Notary Public.
Justice Debelle of the Supreme Court of South Australia has said that the
“functions of a public notary demonstrates that a number of those functions and duties require at the very least a sound working knowledge of Australian law and commercial practice. In other words, the preparation of a notarial act plainly requires a sound knowledge of law and practice in Australia especially of the due preparation and execution of commercial and contractual instruments.”
Stuart Niven and Ping Lee the partners of Baldock Stacy & Niven have both been appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales to be a Notary Public.
Baldock Stacy & Niven provides the services of a Public Notary at our Parramatta Offices at Unit 8, 2 Hunter Street, Parramatta NSW 2150.