Terms and Conditions & Fee Structure

1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: I do not advise on the form, content or effect of any document nor on any aspect of any underlying transaction. Legal advice should always be sought from a lawyer qualified in the country for where the notarised document is to be received in respect of any document to be notarised.
No warranty can be given that a notarised/legalised document will be accepted by the receiving party in any country, or by any third party, nor is any warranty given that it will be suitable for the intended purpose as I cannot and do not advise on the requirements of receiving parties, nor on the form, content or effect of any document to be notarised, all of which must be ascertained by you.
I will not be liable for any loss or damage or delay or adverse consequences of any kind howsoever arising should the notarised/legalised documents be rejected by any receiving party or third party.
If any document is drafted by me for you then it is your responsibility to obtain approval of the same from the receiving party and it is at all times your responsibility to satisfy yourself that it is suitable for the intended purpose and that it will be accepted in the receiving country or third party as I give no warranty in that regard.
Timeframes if given are indicative and are not guaranteed. Instructions to legalise documents are accepted on the basis that I do not accept responsibility for meeting the requirements of any embassy/consulate or of teh Foreign and Commonwealth Office and that any timeframes given are strictly indicative and are not guaranteed.
2. MY FEES: My present hourly rate is £240 plus VAT. For the most straightforward notarial document e.g. a 1 page certified copy or a declaration or affidavit with no exhibits my minimum fee is £60+VAT.  I can provide you with a fixed quote if you send me a scanned copy of the document(s) with information on exactly what is needed and let me know if any further legalisation is required beyond notarisation.  I can obtain apostilles for you from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and further legalisation through Consulates/Embassies if required.  The FCDO apostille cost is currently £40 per document via courier or £45 where no courier is used per document.  I have a handling fee of £20+VAT or £50+VAT where the document needs to go to the Chinese Consulate as that requires additional forms.  The courier fees and postage fees are additional disbursements which will be added to my fee.  Once I have posted or released the document to a courier company I have no control over the document and will not be liable for any delay or loss incurred from that point.  For Probate/Conveyancing/Will Drafting and Deputyship applications my rate is £240+VAT per hour and £18+VAT for each standard telephone call or letter.  I will give you an estimate of the likely total fees and timescale when I obtain initial instructions from you.  For Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) I currently charge £440+VAT for 1 straightforward LPA (either Financial and Property or Health & Welfare) or £700+VAT for both types of LPA or for married/cohabiting couples £700+VAT for 1 each or £1200+VAT for both types of LPA for each.  There is also an additional registration fee which is currently £82 per LPA unless you are in receipt of certain benefits or your gross income is below a set threshold. I reserve the right to vary the rate, in respect of extremely urgent work or work done outside ordinary office hours or at the weekend.  These fees are based on you attending at my office, if I am travelling to you then my hourly rate will be applied.  Please note that even the simplest notarial act requires work beyond my attendance with you.  I am obliged to keep detailed records of ll of the work that I undertake.
3. FIXED FEES: I may in the case of straightforward matters agree with you beforehand a fixed fee. If however at the appointment the matter proves to be more complicated or there are more documents or more people involved than you indicated or legalisation is required , I reserve the right to renegotiate the fee or agree to charge you at my hourly rate.
4. V.A.T: I am registered for VAT with VAT registration number 262 412 627.
5. DISBURSEMENTS: You are responsible for all payments which I make on your behalf. Typical examples are legalisation fees paid to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and/or an Embassy or Consulate’s fee; legalisation agent’s fees, Company House fees, courier fees and special delivery postage charges. However, I shall not incur these expenses without first obtaining your consent to do so.
6. PAYMENT: My charges are normally payable upon completion of notarisation.
7. TIME CHARGE: This includes all work undertaken on your matter from start to finish including preliminary details and advice, preparation, attendances, drafting, phone calls, correspondence including e-mails, faxes, copying documents and the completion of my register and protocol. Letters, e-mails and phone calls are charged at a minimum of six minute units or otherwise at the time taken.
8. PREPARATION: includes checking and dealing with any documents presented by you, any instructions accompanying the documents, consideration and drafting of documents before, during or after attendances, attending to any amendments or completing any blanks in the documents and binding the documents securely.
9. MY RESPONSIBILITIES: I have to be satisfied as to your identity, your legal capacity, your authority and your understanding and approval; in certain instances I may insist on obtaining a medical report to confirm your capacity and understanding. I shall try to ensure that the document, in the manner of its execution, its form and substance will achieve its purpose. I must be satisfied that it is your voluntary act and that no fraud, violence or duress are involved and that other stipulated formalities either under English or foreign law are observed. If I am not satisfied about any one of those things I can refuse to undertake the matter.
10. MY LIABILITY: I carry professional indemnity liability cover of £1,000,000 which is the level of cover specified by the Master of the Faculty of Notaries. I therefore limit the level of my liability to you or to others to £1,000,000.
11. THE RELEVANT LAW: the law which governs my contract with you is English law and it is agreed that any dispute relating to my services shall be resolved by the English courts.

COMPLIANCE NOTICE

Complaints Procedure
Should you have any complaints about my work the following information should assist:

1. My notarial practice is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury :
The Faculty Office
1, The Sanctuary
Westminster
London
SW1P 3JT
Telephone 020 7222 5381
Email Faculty.office@1thesanctuary.com
Website www.facultyoffice.org.uk

2. If you are dissatisfied about the service you have received please do not hesitate to contact me.

3. If we are unable to resolve the matter you may then complain to the Notaries Society of which
I am a member, who have a Complaints Procedure which is approved by the Faculty Office.
This procedure is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution to any dispute.

4. In that case please write (but do not enclose any original documents) with full details of your
complaint to :-
The Secretary of The Notaries Society
P O Box 1023
Ipswich IP1 9XB
Email secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk

If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing please do not hesitate to call the Notaries
Society/the Faculty Office for assistance.

5. Finally, even if you have your complaint considered under the Notaries Society Approved
Complaints Procedure, you may at the end of that procedure, or after a period of eight weeks
from the date you first notified me that you were dissatisfied, make your complaint to the
Legal Ombudsman, if you are not happy with the result :
Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ
Tel : 0300 555 0333
Email : enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website : www.legalombudsman.org.uk

6. If you decide to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman you must refer your matter to the Legal Ombudsman within one year from the act/omission or within one year from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.