Apostille and Legalisation Services

When documents are to be used abroad, some countries require more than notarisation alone. They may also need to be legalised or bear an apostille certificate confirming the validity of the notary’s signature and seal.

At Latimer Solicitors, we provide a complete apostille and legalisation service for clients across England and Wales. Our notary public ensures your documents meet all the necessary international requirements so they are accepted without delay by foreign authorities, institutions, and courts.

Why Legalisation and Apostille Matter

Each country has its own rules about accepting documents issued in the UK. While many will recognise a notary’s seal, others require extra verification to prove that the notary is officially registered and their signature is genuine.

This additional step is known as legalisation. It confirms to the foreign authority that your document has been properly notarised.
You may need this process if you are:

• Using legal or business documents in a foreign jurisdiction
  
  
• Completing property or financial transactions abroad
  
  
• Providing certificates for visa, immigration, or educational purposes
  
  
• Authorising powers of attorney or contracts for use overseas
  
  

The type of legalisation depends on whether the destination country is part of the Hague Convention (Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents). If it is, an apostille issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is usually sufficient. If not, further legalisation through the relevant embassy or consulate will be required.

How Latimer Solicitors Can Help

We provide a seamless end-to-end service for notarisation, apostille, and legalisation, ensuring your documents are recognised and accepted internationally.

Our notary public can:

• Confirm which level of legalisation your document needs
  
  
• Handle FCDO apostille applications on your behalf
  
  
• Arrange embassy or consulate legalisation for non-Hague Convention countries
  
  
• Coordinate translation or certification if documents are not in English
  
  
• Provide advice on timeframes and costs for each stage of the process
  
  
• Return fully authenticated documents to you quickly and securely
  
  

You can rely on our experience and attention to detail to ensure your documents meet every requirement for the country involved.

Our Process / What to Expect

1. Initial consultation – Contact us with details of the document and where it will be used.
   
   
2. Review and notarisation – We’ll check whether the document needs notarising before legalisation.
   
   
3. Determine requirements – Our notary will identify whether an apostille or full embassy legalisation is required.
   
   
4. Processing – We’ll submit your documents to the FCDO or relevant embassy and monitor progress.
   
   
5. Completion – Once the apostille or legalisation certificate is issued, we’ll return your fully authenticated documents promptly.
   
   

We’ll guide you through the process from start to finish, ensuring everything is completed correctly and efficiently.

Why Choose Latimer Solicitors?

• Full apostille and legalisation service across England and Wales
  
  
• Experienced notary public with in-depth knowledge of international requirements
  
  
• Clear, step-by-step support for individuals and businesses
  
  
• Fast, reliable handling of embassy and FCDO procedures
  
  
• Secure and professional service from a trusted legal firm
  
  
• Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
  
  

We take care of the technicalities so you can focus on your personal or business matters with confidence that your documents are valid abroad.