Notary Public in Thailand
Notary Public services add an extra layer of credibility to legal documents and transactions. While Thailand doesn’t have a formal Notary Public system, the Lawyers Council of Thailand allows lawyers to register as Notarial Services Attorneys.
Notarized documents are often required by institutions such as banks, embassies and schools and even individual individuals. Here are a few things you should know about finding a Notary Public in Thailand.
Qualifications
In most countries, the notary public is licensed by the state to authenticate signatures and documents, witness oaths, and administer a number of other duties. A notary public is also usually bonded in order to protect the interests of those who use his or her services.
Thailand does not have a system of notary publics, but some Thai lawyers such as those at our law firm in Pattaya are accredited by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to function as notarial services attorneys. These lawyers must pass a professional preparation course and are authorized to sign and affix seals that certify documents and verify the authenticity of signatures on them.
Documents that need to be notarized often include proof of address, visa renewals, embassy forms, and translations. In addition, some documents require further authentication or legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand before they can be used in other nations. This is common for documents that will be couriered overseas for business or personal purposes.
Fees
In most countries, the government officially licenses a notary public to authenticate signatures and documents as well as attest to affidavits and sworn testimonies and statements. However, Thailand does not have an official notary system, and only lawyers who have passed a professional training course and have been accredited by the Lawyers Council of Thailand as Notarial Services Attorneys can perform authentication services regulated by law.
In many cases, it is necessary to have a document notarized when submitting it to institutions such as banks and embassies. A notary public is able to verify the identity of the person signing a document and confirm that they are aware of its purpose. This helps to prevent fraud and ensures that the signatories are knowingly entering into an agreement. In addition, the notary can also witness the signing of a document and certify it with a stamp or seal. This can be useful when transferring property or conducting business in another country.
Authentication
In many cases, notarized documents need to be authenticated by the relevant embassy or consulate before they can be used abroad. This process is also known as “legalization.” This is normally done after the document has been professionally translated by a Notary Service Attorney or Notary Bangkok.
Buying property, conducting business or legal transactions, and applying for visas in Thailand can all require notarized documents. Therefore, it is important to understand the laws and regulations governing these documents.
In most countries, a Notary Public is an official who is licensed by the state government to authenticate signatures and documents and witness affidavits and statements of persons under oath. Similarly, the Lawyers Council in Thailand recognizes lawyers as Notary Services Attorneys and allows them to perform authentication services as stipulated by the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528. Despite this, foreign authorities do not consider documents that are notarized by a Notary Public in Thailand to be properly authenticated.
Legalization
Several documents that you intend to use outside of Thailand (such as University Degree, Non-Criminal Background Check or Marriage Certificate) require to be authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate of Thailand in the country where it was issued. The first step of this process is to have the document notarized by a Notary Public.
In many countries, notaries are state-licensed officials who authenticate signatures and documents and witness affidavits or statements of persons under oath. Although Thailand has never enacted legislation inaugurating a system of notaries, there are lawyers who have passed a professional training course and are registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as Notarial Services Attorneys B.E. 2546, to perform authorized functions.
In order to get a document notarized, the signatory must present his or her valid passport and the original of the document that needs to be authenticated. The document will then be signed by the Notary Public, sealed and affixed with his or her official stamp.