In many legal matters, individuals need to authenticate and verify documents. These documents include affidavits, contracts, powers of attorney and others.
Notaries play a vital role in various legal transactions and are essential for cross-border legal matters. Some documents cannot become binding or enforceable until they are notarized.
Notaries may also witness the signatures of document signatories and administer oaths or affirmations. In addition, they may certify copies of documents.
Legal Authority
A Notary Public is a government official authorized to authenticate a person’s signature, a title deed, or an affidavit. They also certify documents and attest to their authenticity with a seal and stamp. A notary is an unbiased witness and acts as a deterrent to fraud.
Some countries require that you have your signature notarized in order to courier or present a document overseas. You may also need your Will and Testament certified by a notary to prove that you really want to leave your estate to someone else when you pass away.
In Thailand, the role traditionally associated with notaries is regulated by the Lawyers Council of Thailand as Notarial Services Attorneys. This means that only lawyers who have passed a professional training course and are accredited with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as notaries can perform these functions.
Document Authentication
Notarization is a crucial step in the document authentication process. It helps prevent fraud by verifying that a document is authentic and has been signed by an authorised party. This is achieved through a combination of physical security features, digital signature verification, QR codes, biometric verification and database cross-checks.
Notaries are appointed to authenticate legal documents, signatures and affidavits. They can also verify that a statement made by an individual under oath is true and accurate. Notaries are often referred to as judicial officials because of their significant discretion in the process.
The US Embassy Bangkok may provide certain notarial services to American citizens, such as acknowledgement of signature and power of attorney. However, notary services cannot be used to authenticate documents that were originally issued in another country (as Thailand is not a signatory to the Hague Convention). In this case, the document will need to be further legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at your embassy.
Witnessing Signatures
In most countries, a notary public is licensed by the state to provide authentication of legal documents, affidavits or signatures and statements made under oath. The role in Thailand is presently filled by Notarial Services Attorneys appointed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand, who perform the same functions as their counterparts around the world, and are subject to the laws of the land.
Many institutions like banks, schools and foreign embassies require signed documents to be notarized before they will accept them for use abroad. Other documents that need to be certified include legal and medical certificates, power of attorneys, translations and wills and testaments.
As a busy business hub and home to people from all over the world, there is a lot of need for documents that need notarization in Thailand. Siam Legal can help by providing professional notary services at our location on Wireless Road, close to most embassies. Our notaries are licensed and insured, so you can be assured of the quality of our work.
Certification of Copies
In many countries, a notary public is commissioned by the state government to authenticate documents, signatures, and affidavits. Unlike the judicial system, a notary is an administrative official that is expected to adhere to strict rules and regulations without exercising significant personal discretion.
Notarization is an important step when submitting documents for international use, such as when applying for visas or transferring assets to another country. The attestation process ensures the legitimacy of a document and serves as a deterrent to fraud.
Depending on the circumstances, notary public authentication may be required for documents that require further certification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an embassy. Schmidt & Schmidt can assist with all stages of the authentication and legalization process. Contact us to discuss your specific needs. We can help you get your documents notarized in Thailand quickly and affordably. Our service is fully online and available 24/7. We also handle apostille services and consular legalizations for Thai documents.