Notary Public Brisbane

A Notary Public is an officer in Queensland appointed for life by the Archbishop of Canterbury and given powers to witness documents, administer oaths and perform other wide ranging administrative functions of a national and international nature. A Notary Public not only takes oaths, signs and witnesses documents for use within Australia but also performs similar functions in respect of international documents for use outside Australia.

All notaries, seals and signatures are officially recorded in a database held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), an Australian Government Department authorised to issue Apostilles or Authentication Certificates certifying that the signatures, seals or stamps of Notaries on Australian public documents are genuine. Notary Publics also have their signatures, seals or stamps registered with the State Supreme Court to whom they are answerable to and with the Society of Notaries and with various Embassies.

What does a Notary Public actually do?

A Notary Public principally:

• Attests documents and certifies their due execution for use in Australia and overseas countries
• Prepares and certifies powers of attorney, wills, deeds, contracts and other legal documents, for use in Australia and overseas countries
• Administers oaths for Australian and international documents
• Witnesses signatures to affidavits, statutory declarations, powers of attorney, contracts, and other documents, for use in Australia and overseas countries
• Verifies documents for use in Australia and overseas countries
• Certifies copy documents for use in Australia and overseas countries
• Exemplifies official documents for use internationally
• Notes and protests bills of exchange
• Prepares ships' protests