Notarial fees are generally based on the time spent on the matter and on the basis of an hourly charging rate
Charges
Hilary Garnett charges £200 per hour with no VAT payable.
However, the cost of dealing with your document will ultimately depend on a number of factors, the most significant of which is the time taken to complete the work. Where possible, the notary will review your document before the work is undertaken to give you a more specific estimate of the likely charges.
Payments out on your behalf
The notary may have to pay fees to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and/or a Foreign Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for legalisation. It may also be necessary to pay for a translator or an interpreter and other payments may be required, including agent’s fees and travelling expenses. Your prior approval of these will be obtained and you will normally be required to make payment in advance of any such amounts.
Basis of charging
If it is a simple matter of witnessing a document, a fixed fee may be charged. If there are complications or if the notary is required to draft a document, obtain legalisation or some other authentication of the document, the charge raised will be based upon the time that is spent, based on the hourly rate set out above. This may include telephone calls made or received, letters sent and received, time spent in interviews, on drafting documents and on preparing the necessary entries in the notarial register.
Special factors
Special factors which might result in an increase in the charge to you include:
- Complexity or novelty
- If the work has to be done away from our offices
- Incomplete or ineffective documents where we have to spend time in liaising further with your advisers or agents who produce the documents
- Special urgency, which may require us to drop other work to deal with yours or if the work unavoidably has to be dealt with outside office hours
- The number and importance of the documents
- The value of any money or property involved in the transaction for which the document has been produced
Payment
The notarial charges are normally payable upon signature of the document requiring notarisation and the notary reserves the right to retain any completed document until payment has been received.
