Notary Public & Notarial Services and Certificate Assistance
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is an attorney with an additional qualification who has been admitted by the High Court.
This role carries statutory and common law powers to prepare and attest to specialised legal documents, administer oaths, and perform a wide range of national and international administrative functions.
At
Certificate Assistance, our experienced notaries handle the preparation, witnessing, and authentication of documents for both local and global use.
Our Notarial Services
Our team provides expert assistance with:
- Powers of Attorney
- Notarial Bonds
- Shipping Protests – Notarised sea protests for maritime law compliance
- Long & Short-Term Lease Agreements
- Witnessing & Verifying Signatures on important documents
- Authentication of Document Copies
- Arranging Apostille Certificates
- Legalising Documents for use abroad under foreign and/or international law
- Authentication of South African Documents for overseas recognition
Examples of documents we authenticate include:
- University degrees & diplomas
- Passports & identity documents
- Birth certificates
- Visa & immigration application forms
Our Legalisation Process for Non-Hague Convention Countries
At Certificate Assistance, we have perfected this procedure:
- Authentication by Our Notary Expert – We verify and notarise the document.
- High Court Authentication – The Registrar of the High Court authenticates our notary’s signature.
- Foreign Affairs Authentication – The Registrar’s signature is verified by the Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO).
- Embassy Legalisation – The document is submitted to the foreign embassy in South Africa.
- Final Recognition Abroad – The embassy forwards the document to the relevant authority in the destination country.
This step-by-step approach ensures your documents are processed quickly, correctly, and without delays.
Why Document Authentication Matters
If a document is issued in one country but intended for use in another, it must be authenticated (or legalised) before it is recognised abroad.
The process depends on whether the destination country is part of the Hague Convention:
- Hague Convention Countries – Only an Apostille Certificate is required.
- Non-Hague Convention Countries – A more complex, multi-step legalisation process is necessary.
FAQ’s
1. How long does it take to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate?
Typically, the process can take anywhere from 15 to 30 days, but with Certificate Assistance, we strive to expedite this process for our clients.
2. What do I need to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate?
You will require a set of fingerprints taken at a local police station, a copy of your identity document or passport, and consent for the check.
3. Can Certificate Assistance assist me if I am currently residing outside of South Africa?
Absolutely. We provide services to South Africans both domestically and internationally, ensuring your clearance needs are met no matter where you are.
4. Is the Police Clearance Certificate valid for travel to all countries?
Yes, our certificates are recognised globally and meet the standards required for international travel, employment, and residency applications.
5. How will I receive my Police Clearance Certificate?
We can deliver your certificate electronically or send a hard copy to your specified address, locally or internationally.
Contact Us
Step into your next venture assuredly. Reach out to Certificate Assistance for prompt and protected document services. Allow us to manage the intricacies while you focus on your future endeavours.
Important Note: Job submissions and CVs are not accepted.