Notary Public

Philip Redmond is a Notary Public.  He is a fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries, and is available for appointments.

A Notary Public’s role is to verify the signing (known as execution) of documents that are required to be used overseas.

A Notary checks:

• The identity of the signatory
• That the signatory has full legal capacity/official representative capacity
• That the signatory signs with full understanding of the transaction
• That there is no fraud or illegality involved.

There is a charge for this service depending on the number and type of documents or amount of time involved.

It is important to note that whilst a Notary can certify the authenticity of a document, they do not verify the facts expressed within the document itself (which remain subject to the normal rules of evidence of the country in which the document is being presented) or the signature on the documents.

A Notary Public is a private professional to whom the Crown entrusts the function of authenticating transactions and documents in proper legal form. Unlike their US counterparts, New Zealand Notaries, discussed in paragraph below, are required to hold formal legal qualifications.

• History

  • In New Zealand Notaries Public are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury (London) through the Court of Facilities, a power conferred by the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533. The Office of Notary Public is very old and the origins of Notaries can be traced back to Ancient Rome; there they were called Scribae, Tabellius or Notarius. Notaries Public are the oldest continuing branch of the legal profession. 

    In 1279, the Pope authorised the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint Notaries.  In those early days many notaries were members of the clergy. The Ecclesiastical Licences Act terminated the Pope’s power to appoint notaries and vested that power in the King who then divested it to the Archbishop of Canterbury who, in turn, divested it to the Master of the Faculties. This system continues today.

    In countries ratifying The Hague Convention, one further act of certification is required in some jurisdictions, known as an apostille. This is issued by a government department; in New Zealand this is usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Notaries Public perform an important role which both facilitates international trade and commerce and assists individuals who need to carry out personal transactions in overseas jurisdictions, in particular for migrants wishing to carry out transactions in their home country.

    A Notary Public holds a position of utmost trust; in New Zealand the role is limited to senior practising lawyers.

    After the passage of the 1533 Act, which resulted directly from the Reformation in England, all Notary appointments were issued directly through the Court Faculties. The Court of Faculties is attached to the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Philip Redmond's appointment is not limited, unlike some overseas jurisdictions, and is referred to as "unlimited by time". Philip’s commission expires on death.

    Although it was once usual for New Zealand Notaries to use a red embossed seal, it is now common to use a red ink stamp that contains the Notary’s full name and the words Notary Public.  It is also common for the seal or stamp to include the Notary’s chosen symbol. Philip has adopted part of his family crest and motto, Faithful to duty.

• Links to other New Zealand Notaries

  • The Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries Anzcn

    The Notaries Society The Notaries Society