angelman

I am required to fill out an id1 one which is a verification of identity for a UK lease transfer. I am US resident and now citizen. Would a US notary be able to perform this service? I know a US notary is different to UK and does not have the same legal standing. Also the form asks for evidence of the lawyer's certification, what would this be? It seems like a big and mildly expensive hassle unless you happen to know a friendly lawyer but it has to be done whether I like it or not Of course doing in person verification is even more problematic at this time as I explained to the UK solicitor dealing with this.. expat life.

Jerseygirl

It is my experience that most US ‘notaries’ are not acceptable in the UK. In the UK notary a must be a qualified, practicing solicitor. In the US anyone and his dog can become a notary.

Glasgow Girl

Several UK banks and financial institutions have accepted my US notarized documents for proof of identity regarding money laundering. I think a regular Notary should be accepted for a lease transfer! I would just go ahead, get them notarized, send it in and see what happens. In the area that asks for proof of lawyer certification, I would just have them stamp there and out in their ID details, or stamp somewhere else and refer to the stamp and details from that area. The worst that happens is that they reject it, but I am pretty sure they will accept it. You have nothing to lose except your time.

S Folinsky

Interesting. I do know that both the US and the UK are parties to The Hague Apostille Convention. You may want to inquire if a US notarial “acknowledgement” plus the appropriate “apostille” will do the trick.

BTW, as a US lawyer I would hesitate to verify the signature as being outside the scope of my legal authority under US law. I don’t know the answer to that one, but it would be an area of inquiry.

Jerseygirl

I had to get my passport notorized as proof of ID when I was buying/selling property. Had it notorized at the bank...it was returned as not acceptable.

tht

I remember doing an apostille for Spain and remember having to go to both a bilingual lawyer and then I think the FCO to have the document “legalized”. If the US process is similar that sound like a lot of work.

Glasgow Girl

Don't know if this is why my documents were approved by various banks and financial institutions and Jersey Girl's were not but I was told to have the Notary add the the words “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”. And also to state their name, title and business address and of course the appropriate stamp, signature and date. I did have them write the date out in full, e.g, January 3rd, 2020 instead of 1/3/20 because the US date format would only confuse people back home.

angelman

I spoke to a notary friend and he said he would not feel comfortable notarising it as it did not have the correct standard "notary language" and he was not sure if filling in the standard form and providing information like his address was in the scope of what is permitted for a notary. I have found a friend who is a lawyer who will do the form for me though, hopefully that will work.

S Folinsky

There is a difference between being “legalized” and having the “apostille.” As you found out, the process to “legalize” is more involved than the apostille. Again, the apostille is a creature of international treaty. Both the US and the UK are parties. Canada is not, which can complicate matters when Canada is involved.

The apostille procedure is quite abbreviated and there are services which will get that for you.

S Folinsky

I see where your notary friend is coming from. Last year we had to sign a document which had been prepared with a foreign (e.g. New Jersey) notarization form. The notary, at Chase Bank, refused to notarize as on the document. Rather, she attached the California specific form acknowledgement. The New Jersey authorities had no problem with the attachment in lieu of the official NJ form.

As I mentioned above, as an attorney I would worry about performing a notarial act without being a notary myself. Your friend may disagree.

Mercury39

In process on completing a property transaction in the UK and my UK solicitor required ID documents for the ID verification as part of the Money Laundering Regulations. I had passports/license/bills certified as copies by a notary at a US bank and that was accepted by my UK solicitor.

angelman

Did you have to complete an id1 form? This is a specific UK government form for id verification. It's more explicit than simply a notarised copy of my passport etc.

Mercury39

I did not complete ID1 form.

Rete

That's the magic verbage that used on all our notarized documents for USCIS. The Canadian Passport Renewal Application required a 'professional', i.e. doctor, attorney, etc. who had known you for x number of years to verify that hubby was who he is. Thankfully, our good friend who is an attorney did it for us.