Notary Public is an important role that contributes to legal processes. In Thailand, this role is performed by notarial services attorneys.
To provide Notary Public services, lawyers must pass a special license assessment by the Lawyers Council. Documents notarized by these attorneys are recognized internationally. However, for documents involving international business transactions further certification may be required by a foreign country or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Qualifications
A Notary Public is an official appointed by a state government to authenticate documents, signatures and title deeds as well as witness affidavits or statements of persons under oath. Notaries are commissioned as ministerial officials and expected to adhere to written rules without exercising significant personal discretion – unlike judicial officials who exercise significant discretion.
The United States Embassy in Thailand can only provide notary services for certain types of US documents (e.g. signature acknowledgement, power of attorney). For other documents, G.A.M. Legal Alliance can assist with getting them notarized by a Thai Notary Service Attorney.
Despite the fact that Thailand has never established a system of Notary Public, there are some Thai lawyers authorized to function as Notarial Services attorneys under the Lawyers Council. These Thai lawyers undergo a professional training course and have the authority to verify and witness documents for authentication purposes, as regulated by the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528. Documents originating in another country that have been notarized by a Thai Notary Services Attorney may require further legalization or authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Legalization Division.
Authentication
If you want your documents to be accepted in a foreign country for business purposes it might be necessary that you have them certified by a Notary Public. These are lawyers authorized by the Thai Lawyers Council to verify legal documents, affidavits and signatures under oath.
Documents which require certification of authenticity may also need to be further authenticated or legalized. This can be done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at an embassy depending on the country that you are looking to use the document in.
Notary services are not available for all documents, and you will be required to appear in person at a Magna Carta Law Firm office in South Pattaya to sign the documents. Our Notarial Services Attorney will be happy to assist you with this process and answer any questions that you might have. The cost of the service depends on the type and size of the document. For larger documents the fee will increase.
Verification
Most countries have official notaries who are licensed by the state to authenticate documents, signatures and affidavits or statements made under oath. In Thailand, the Lawyer’s Council has a regulation allowing particular lawyers to function as notary services attorneys and they may perform authentication services regulated under the law.
Some documents cannot become binding or enforceable until they are notarized. The notary service attorney verifies the signatures on such documents as well as ensuring that the individuals signing the document are qualified to do so.
Notary services are also required for various other purposes in Thailand. For example, the notary can certify proof of address for an individual who wants to apply for a visa or passport in another country. This is a requirement by some embassies as well as immigration authorities. The US Embassy in Bangkok is authorized by relevant US law and Department of State policy to provide specific notarial services such as acknowledgment of signature, power of attorney, and certified copies of US passports for all US citizens.
International Recognition
A Notary Public is an official who is fully licensed to authenticate documents, witness signatures and administer oaths. They are also entrusted with the certification of translations, especially within the legal documentation and international transactions sector. They verify that translated documents accurately represent the original content, a critical function for cross-border communication and compliance.
Although many foreign countries require that documents originating or signed in their respective countries be notarized, Thailand is not one of them. Nonetheless, there are several lawyers who are authorized by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to certify documents and act as notaries.
This type of service is particularly useful for those who are buying property abroad or relocating to another country. Many banks require that all documents that are submitted be notarized before being accepted for processing. Notarization is also required for some documents to become enforceable and binding. This is because a notary public acts as a neutral witness, affirming that the individual submitting the document is the same person who is qualified to do so.