Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of address
 

Hi,
We are in the process of selling a property in the UK but we are resident in the USA. We are not planning to travel to the UK but the UK estate agents need proof of identify and address before the sale could complete. What is the best way to provide this information from the USA. We need some form of certified copy of a UK passport and certified proof of address. Who can provide this service of certified documents or otherwise how do we resolve this issue?

Anyone who has sold a UK property from the USA how did you resolve this issue?

many thanks,
Andrew

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

Take a copy of your passports (and the original) to your local bank. They will certify the copy for you. For proof of address also take an original utility bill, bank or credit card statement that is less than 3 months old (a joint one with both your names or individual ones with each name) and they will certify that also. If you are online only, they usually accept a printed PDF copy in lieu of the original. Basically anywhere with a notary public can perform this service, almost every bank or credit union in the USA will do it, usually free if you are a member or client, but for a nominal fee otherwise.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

The problem is a US notary can be anyone and is dog. In the UK a notary must be a qualified solicitor or barrister. I ran into this problem when selling my UK house. I then had the document notorised by a qualified solicitor. I would the agent if a bank employee will suffice.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

Notary worked for me!

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

Maybe the agent will accept a bank employee...but technically/by law the would not be an acceptable notary in the UK.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

When I spoke to a Notary about Certifying a Marriage Certificate as a true copy of the original they had no clue what I was asking. There seems to be no equivalent here to getting a certified copy of something. When I explained exactly what was required the Notary stated that they were unable to process this type of request. They are licensed to certify someones signature, made in the presence of the Notary and by checking ID confirm that the person, in their presence signed the required document.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

I am not sure why the estate agents need that. :confused: I had a discussion with my solicitor and, after discussing options to complete the sale when I was in the US, I arranged for the contract to be signed under a PoA held by the solicitor..

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

I find that interesting, because I am a notary and I have done exactly that in the past. I look at the original document, I look at the photocopy, make sure they are the same, and then I sign the photocopy with a statement saying this is a true copy of the original document.

Rene

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

Noorah confirms my experiences. Over the years, for a variety of reasons I have had to have numerous documents certified as a true copy of the original. I made a copy, wrote "Certified as a true copy of the original" and asked the notary to sign and stamp underneath that statement (after inspecting the original of course). I have never had an issue with any of the notaries that I have used, or at the UK end of things either, and I have dealt with several of the major financial institutions, property sales, and settlement of an estate with UK based solicitors. They all accepted the copies without question. Try the notary approach first. It is inexpensive and fast. In my experience a notary public is a very accepted method of certifying documents for the UK.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add
 

That's what they said to me too, and refused to look at the original. They had me write and sign that the copy was the same as the original, and certified my signature. The documents were accepted by the people I needed them for.

Re: Selling UK Propety - Obtain certified copies of UK passport and proof of add