VICTORIA L COHEN
NOTARY PUBLIC
Terms of Business
- Why do you need a Notary Public? The services of a Notary are often required where legal documentation is required for use in a foreign country. A Notary is a lawyer who holds an internationally recognised public office and documents drawn up or certified by a Notary will be accepted as genuine by judicial and public authorities abroad. My involvement will ensure that your documents are accepted in any country in the world where they need to be used.
- My Independence: My work as Notary is entirely independent of any third party. Your personal details and any information given to me in the course of providing you with notarial services will be treated absolutely confidentially and not shared with any other person or firm. I also fully comply with the obligations required under The General Data Protection Regulations. You can refer to the Privacy Notice on my website, or request a paper copy, for full information about this.
- Your Own Professional Advisers: It is not my responsibility to give you legal advice concerning the document. My role is to be satisfied that you understand the content of the document and that you intend to be bound by it. You are advised to seek first the advice of your own independent legal or other competent adviser who practises in, or is skilled in the law of the jurisdiction to which the document will be sent.
- My Responsibilities: I have to be satisfied as to your identity, your legal capacity and your authority to act as well as your understanding and approval of the documents. In certain instances I may insist on a translation. I shall try to ensure that the document, in the manner of its execution, its form and its substance will achieve its purpose. I must be satisfied that it is your voluntary act and that no fraud, violence or duress is involved. I must be satisfied that stipulated formalities either under English law or of foreign law are observed. If I am not satisfied about any one of these things I can refuse to undertake the matter.
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office and/or Consular Legalisation: Some countries require a document to be legalised. This is a process by which a state agency confirms that my seal and signature are those of an English notary. The Foreign & Commonwealth office attach an apostille to the document. Sometimes the document then has to go the London Embassy for the country to where the document will be sent. The Embassy will then attach its own certificate to the document. Your lawyer will probably advise you about the need for legalisation. If not, you should ask him about it. I shall be able to obtain the necessary legalisation and shall discuss with you timescale, cost and whether we should use couriers or legalisation agents if speed is required. However you can deal with legalisation yourself if you wish.
- Register & Protocol: At the end of the matter I make a formal entry of the main details in my register and I keep copies of the notarised document and proof of identity in my protocol.
- My Liability: I carry professional indemnity liability cover of £1 million which is the level of cover required by the Master of the Faculty. I therefore limit my liability to you to £1 million, unless you are injured or die as a result of my negligence, in which case my liability is unlimited.
- The Relevant Law: The law which governs my contract with you is English law and it agreed that any dispute relating to my services shall be resolved by the English Courts.
- My Fees: My present hourly rate is £225.00 and my minimum fee is £75.00 I reserve the right to vary the rate in respect of extremely urgent work or work done outside normal office hours.
- Fixed Fees: In the case of straightforward matters I may 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 people involved than you indicated, or if legalisation is required, I reserve the right to renegotiate the fee or agree to charge you at my hourly rate.
- V.A.T: I am not currently registered for VAT.
- 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, legalisation agents' fees, Companies Registry fees, couriers' fees and special postage charges. However I shall not incur these expenses without first obtaining your consent to do so.
- Payment: My charges are normally payable on the signing of the document or on receipt of the notarised document. If I render a bill in respect of the work, payment will be due when you receive the bill. Payment can be made by cash, cheque, debit or credit card or, with prior arrangement, by direct bank transfer.
- 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 emails, faxes, copying documents and the completion of my register and protocol. Letters, emails and phone calls are charged at a minimum of six minute units or otherwise at the time taken.
- Regulation: My notarial practice is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury: The Faculty Office, 1, The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT (Tel: 020 7222 5381). All notaries are subject to strict rules similar to those affecting solicitors; we must maintain full insurance protection for the benefit of clients and the public; we must keep clients' money separate from that of our business and we must comply with stringent rules of practice, conduct and discipline.
- Complaints: I hope you will be completely satisfied with the service provided to you. However, if you are dissatisfied in any way then you should take the following steps:
- Please contact me direct in the first instance and I will do my best to resolve the matter for you.
- If I am 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 quick resolution to any dispute. 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, PO Box 1023, Ipswich IP1 9XB (Email: secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk Tel: 01604 758908). If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing, please do not hesitate to call the Notaries Society/Faculty Office for assistance.
- Finally, if you are not happy with the result, even if you have had 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, PO Box 6167 Slough SL1 0EH (Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk Tel: 0300 555 0333). 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 have reasonably known there was cause for complaint.
Victoria Cohen
Greetwell Place
Lime Kiln Way
Lincoln LN2 4US
Tel: 01522 282075
Mobile: 07421 324281
Email: vl.cohennotarypublic@gmx.com