Notary vs Solicitor
A solicitor may certify copies, advise on UK law, prepare documents and witness or authenticate signatures within professional rules. A notary public specialises in acts intended for use abroad and may produce a notarial certificate. A commissioner for oaths has a narrower role for oaths and declarations.
An apostille confirms the origin of an eligible public document or professional signature; it does not make every form of certification interchangeable. The recipient decides what it accepts. Corporate documents may be suitable for solicitor or notary certification, but powers of attorney, affidavits and foreign registry filings often have precise wording.
Send the recipient’s checklist before booking. The cheapest correct certification is better than paying twice for the wrong one.
- Solicitor: legal work and many certifications
- Notary: cross-border notarial acts
- Commissioner for oaths: narrower oath function
- Apostille eligibility checked separately
- Recipient wording controls the route
Official sources