Whether you are shipping a signed document abroad or dealing with legal proceedings in another country, having the documents certified by a Notary Public is vital. Learn more about Notary Public services and their role in your life and business.
Notary Public in Thailand is an official of integrity appointed by state governments to authenticate signatures, documents, and witness affidavits or statements made under oath. At Konrad Legal, we have qualified lawyers accredited as Notarial Services Attorneys to provide this service.
Authentication of Documents
The authentication of documents is a crucial part of many legal transactions, domestic and international. Whether you’re using a document in a real estate transaction or as evidence in a court case, the destination country will need to know that your signature is genuine and that the document itself is authentic. A notary public is an official who can verify signatures and authenticate documents and statements of individuals under oath.
Notaries play a critical role in both the domestic and international business world. As a result, it’s important to understand what they can and cannot do to ensure that your documents are valid, enforceable, and accepted by authorities both within Thailand and abroad.
A Notarial Services Attorney certified by the Lawyers Council is licensed to put into practice the authentication of documents and signatures, witnessing oaths and affirmations, and certification of copies. This is especially important for documents that will be used in the context of a cross-border legal process.
For example, when submitting academic transcripts or parental letters to a foreign university, the institution will often require that they be notarized. Notarization is also required for some visa applications or immigration processes, ensuring that the documents are authentic and genuine. In some cases, the notarized documents may need to be further legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a foreign embassy in Thailand.
International Acceptance of Documents
A Notary Public in Thailand can help you with a wide variety of legal matters including verification of documents, translation and certification. Documents requiring authentication can include a variety of things from medical records, diplomas and financial statements to affidavits and statements made under oath. These documents are required by the courts, banks, schools, businesses, government agencies and a wide variety of other organizations.
In most countries, a Notary Public is licensed by the state to authenticate signatures and documents and witness affidavits and statements of persons under oath. A notary acts like a neutral witness, making sure that the signatures and documents are genuine. Documents that are not notarized may not be accepted by the authorities, especially if they are meant to be used internationally.
In Thailand, the Lawyers Council has created a rule that allows certain lawyers to act like notaries by verifying signatures and documents. These lawyers are known as “Notarial Services Attorneys” and have to undergo a training course. However, these are only a small number of the Thai lawyers. Documents that are meant for use abroad still need to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassy legalisation process before they are valid in other countries. This is a tedious and expensive procedure that could be avoided with a simple notarization by a Notary Public in Bangkok.
Authentication of Signatures
The authentication of signatures is an important part of legal and official documents. Authentication ensures that the document was signed willingly and knowingly. It also verifies that the signer presented valid identification documents. In addition to verifying signatures, notaries can witness and certify affidavits and sworn statements. This is important for many international transactions and business applications.
Most countries have a notary public who is licensed by the state government to provide authentication of legal documents, affidavits, and signatures. Thailand does not have a notary public, but the Lawyers Council of Thailand has designated certain attorneys with the role of Notarial Services Attorney, allowing them to perform authentication services as regulated by the Lawyers Act.
In most cases, for a document to be accepted by foreign authorities in Thailand, it must be notarized and then legalized. The requesting authority may request additional authentication such as an apostille or consular service, depending on the country.
Typically, the process of authenticating a document in Thailand starts with an online notary platform that provides a virtual notary service. After uploading your document, you schedule a video conference with a licensed notary who will check the authenticity of your signature and identity. After verifying the signature, they will notarize your document. If the document is intended for a foreign institution or government, it must be further authenticated by the embassy of the country in Thailand or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
Verification of Oaths
In most countries, notaries are officially authorized by the state to verify signatures on documents, witness affidavits or statements of persons under oath, and administer oaths and affirmations. However, Thailand does not have notary public offices; instead, certain lawyers who are certified by the Lawyers Council of Thailand and licensed to act as Notarial Services Attorneys perform the same functions. These are typically legal professionals who provide a valuable service to expats and individuals who require notarized documents, such as property transactions or documentation required for the visa process or when engaging in international business or moving abroad.
The notary will verify the identity of the person signing through official identification, and also ensure that they are aware of and consent to the contents of the document being signed. They will then affix their seal and signature, along with a notarial certificate to the document. This is a very important step because documents notarized in this way are considered authentic and trustworthy. Documents notarized in this manner are also recognized internationally and often don’t require further processes like legalization or an Apostille before they can be used abroad.
A notary’s role in verification of oaths is essential, especially in a globalized business world, where documents frequently cross borders. A professional notary can provide peace of mind and confidence that your document meets all of the relevant international standards.