Notaries are required when a document or transaction has to be authenticated to be used in countries outside England and Wales. Let’s look at the history of the profession.
Who appoints a notary?
We have to go back to the origins of Ecclesiastical Law and the appointment of these officials. Until the break with Rome in 1533 under the rule of Henry VIII, notaries were appointed by the Pope under the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This continued after the Reformation but under the authority of the Crown. Since 1801, the regulation and appointment of notaries have been governed by statutes passed by parliament. The jurisdiction of the Archbishop continues to be exercised through the oldest English court known as the Court of Faculties.
Notaries represent the oldest and smallest branch of the legal profession in England & Wales.
If you are looking for notary services London, an online search will produce results for companies such as https://bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/notary-services-for-individuals/london/.
What is the timeline of the development of the Notary profession?
1279: Foreign notaries began to arrive in England. They were mainly Italian and had papal authority. In this year, the Archbishop of Canterbury was authorised to appoint notaries by papal decree.
1279 – 1533: After the Reformation, parliament passed an act transferring powers that could previously only be exercised by the Pope to the Crown. This included the right to appoint notaries.
1533 – 1801: Notaries were appointed by the Crown with no foreign intervention; however, in 1801, the Public Notaries Act was passed by parliament to regulate the profession. The profession expanded during this period but remained a specialist area of the law.
1907: The Notaries Society was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1907. To this day, it represents the majority of the notaries in England and Wales. Notaries continue to operate under the guidance of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
What is the notary’s role in the modern world?
If you are purchasing overseas properties, marrying or divorcing abroad, or expanding a business in different jurisdictions, you may need the services of a notary.