Watford Notary Public was established by Stephen Down at the beginning of 2010. Prior to that he had worked as a solicitor and notary from qualifying in 1998 and was a partner with a firm in Harrow until 2010. He completed the Notarial Practice Course at Cambridge University in 2004 and has subsequently completed the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) diploma in 2010 and became a full professional member of Solicitors for the Elderly.
He has a wide experience and knowledge of all aspects of notarial work and acts for a number of multinational companies based in Watford and the surrounding towns as well as thousands of individual clients with documents from all corners of the world. He covers all areas of notarial work including Powers of Attorney, property transactions, court documentation, certified copies of identification and Company House documents, OCI and PIO affidavits, foreign adoptions, etc.
In addition he specialises in Will drafting (including Inheritance tax advice), Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), Court of Protection Deputyship applications and applying for and assisting with Probate applications.
He has a wide experience and knowledge of all aspects of notarial work and acts for a number of multinational companies based in Watford and the surrounding towns as well as thousands of individual clients with documents from all corners of the world. He covers all areas of notarial work including Powers of Attorney, property transactions, court documentation, certified copies of identification and Company House documents, OCI and PIO affidavits, foreign adoptions, etc.
In addition he specialises in Will drafting (including Inheritance tax advice), Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), Court of Protection Deputyship applications and applying for and assisting with Probate applications.
Services
Notaries are the oldest branch of the legal profession, pre-dating solicitors and barristers.
We derive our authority from the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury rather than the Law Society or Bar Council.
Our main role is to authenticate documents and facts for use outside of England and Wales.
This can relate to a wide range of activities including overseas property transactions, granting powers of attorney, administering the estates of the deceased, commercial transactions, court proceedings, adoption applications and immigration matters.
We derive our authority from the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury rather than the Law Society or Bar Council.
Our main role is to authenticate documents and facts for use outside of England and Wales.
This can relate to a wide range of activities including overseas property transactions, granting powers of attorney, administering the estates of the deceased, commercial transactions, court proceedings, adoption applications and immigration matters.
Many countries, especially those outside of the Commonwealth, wish to be sure that I am properly authorised in England and Wales to act as a notary.
This is done by a procedure called legalisation.
For most countries this means applying to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legalisation department in Milton Keynes for an apostille.
An apostille is a small certificate that will be attached to your document confirming my status as a Notary Public and confirming my signature and seal.
Some countries have additional requirements.
This is done by a procedure called legalisation.
For most countries this means applying to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legalisation department in Milton Keynes for an apostille.
An apostille is a small certificate that will be attached to your document confirming my status as a Notary Public and confirming my signature and seal.
Some countries have additional requirements.
As a full professional member of Solicitors for the Elderly I have a particular expertise in advising on and obtaining Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) for both Property and Financial Affairs and for Health and Welfare matters.
LPAs replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney in 2007 and are used to appoint trusted representatives to act on your behalf should you ever be in a position where you were unable to make an informed decision for yourself.
I am able to advise whether there should be any particular instructions or advice left to the attorneys.
LPAs replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney in 2007 and are used to appoint trusted representatives to act on your behalf should you ever be in a position where you were unable to make an informed decision for yourself.
I am able to advise whether there should be any particular instructions or advice left to the attorneys.
I will always need to ensure that the people appearing before me are properly identified and I normally need to see the appearer's current passport and a recent document, dated within the past 3 months e.g.
All transactions by limited or public companies need to be supported by similar evidence of the identity of the appearing officers of the company, and in some cases the relevant resolutions authorising the transactions.
I make an online search at Companies House Registry.
I don't advise clients on the effect of the documents I am asked to authenticate and so you should obtain advice from competent advisers as to what you are entering into (this frequently means obtaining advice from foreign lawyers).
All transactions by limited or public companies need to be supported by similar evidence of the identity of the appearing officers of the company, and in some cases the relevant resolutions authorising the transactions.
I make an online search at Companies House Registry.
I don't advise clients on the effect of the documents I am asked to authenticate and so you should obtain advice from competent advisers as to what you are entering into (this frequently means obtaining advice from foreign lawyers).
As a full professional member of Solicitors for the Elderly and member of STEP I have particular expertise in advising on and drafting wills and applying for probate and administering the estate of a deceased person.
If clients have an existing will I can advise whether it should be updated by either drafting a codicil (an addition to the will) or the provision of a whole new will.
I have assisted many of my clients in obtaining Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration and completing the relevant Inheritance Tax forms (IHT205 or IHT400) and then administering the estate of a deceased person.
If clients have an existing will I can advise whether it should be updated by either drafting a codicil (an addition to the will) or the provision of a whole new will.
I have assisted many of my clients in obtaining Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration and completing the relevant Inheritance Tax forms (IHT205 or IHT400) and then administering the estate of a deceased person.
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