Welcome to Notary Public East Sussex

My name is Kevin Beach, and I am a Notary Public.

I am based near the Sussex coast, in 1066 country.

I offer notary services to clients throughout East Sussex.

Services are offered to clients throughout East Sussex including:
Ashburnham, Battle, Bexhill, Bodiam, Boreham Street, Breed, Brightling, Bulverhythe, Burwash, Catsfield, Crowborough, Crowhurst, Eastbourne, Edgecombe, Etchingham, Fairlight, Green Street, Guestling, Hailsham, Hastings, Heathfield, Herstmonceux, Hooe, John’s Cross, Lunsford’s Cross, Mayfield, Mountfield, Netherfield, Ninfield, Ore, Pebsham, Pett, Pett Levels, Pevensey, Polegate, Robertsbridge, Sidley, Silver Hill, Standard Hill, Staplecross, St Leonards, Three Oaks, Wartling, Watlington, Westfield and Windmill Hill.

What are Notaries?

Notaries are the oldest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales. We are specialist lawyers, appointed by Royal authority, who deal principally with documents and transactions involving other countries.

What I do as a Notary

I authenticate and certify documents for use abroad. Sometimes, I also draft them. When necessary, I also arrange any apostille or other legalisation required before the document can be used abroad.

If you need a Notary

Please email me before making an appointment and attach the document you need notarised, together with any instructions or emails you have received from the person or organisation abroad. I can then tell you what is required and, so far as possible, how long it is likely to take and what it is likely to cost.

Examples of documents I deal with, for use outside the UK:

• Powers of attorney
• Certifying copies of UK company articles and certificates of incorporation
• Consent for a child travelling abroad with one parent or a third party
• Documents for companies wishing to establish branch offices abroad
• Contracts and deeds for buying or selling property abroad
• Execution of foreign wills
• Certifying copies of important documents, such as passports and other ID and address documents, and any original document that must be proved abroad
• Verification of education certificates and professional qualifications •          Bills of sale for ships and aircraft
• Affidavits and statutory declarations
• Declarations of freedom to marry
• Statements of English law for foreign lawyers
• Documents for USA real estate transactions, insurance policy claims and surrenders, quit claims, insurance policies, affidavits and Warranty Deeds etc.

Notaries never “just witness a signature on a piece of paper”. A Notary has a duty to the transaction, not simply to the person who has asked for the work. I must be satisfied about matters such as identity, capacity, authority, understanding and the proper execution of the document. This is important because notarised documents may be relied upon by governments, officials, courts, businesses and individuals in other countries.

Preparing for the work

When you first contact me, please email me a copy of every document you want notarised. If the documents or instructions were sent to you by a lawyer, company or other person abroad, please forward their email to me with all its attachments.

Please do this before making an appointment. It enables me to check what is required and to advise you, so far as possible, what needs to be done, how long it is likely to take and what it is likely to cost.

Meeting you

When a document is to be signed before me, I will need to meet the person signing it so that I can verify their identity and discuss the document and its background with them. I have an obligation to make sure that they understand the document and are signing it voluntarily. I also check, so far as necessary, that its execution complies with English law and the requirements of the country in which it is to be used.

I work from my home, where I usually arrange to meet clients. We have plenty of parking space on our driveway. Because I do not have a waiting room, and in case I am not available at any time, please always make a firm appointment before visiting, to avoid disappointment.

I can visit you at your premises if you wish, but I may have to charge extra for travelling time if you are not very local to me.

Identification

The law requires me to verify your identity. For each individual I will normally need to see:

• a valid, current passport or full UK photo driving licence; and
• an original official document showing your name and residential address, normally dated within the previous three months.

This might be a bank statement, utility bill or tax document. I must see the originals and will make and retain copies.

My fees and expenses

My fees will depend on the work involved, including the background checks that Notaries are required to carry out. I may need to carry out some preliminary work in order to establish what the matter involves and what will be required. Before you commit to paying me anything, I will give you a firm written estimate of my fees and of any expenses which I expect to incur on your behalf, such as apostille or other legalisation fees, translation costs, company-search fees or courier charges.

If you accept my estimate, I will send you an invoice. This must be paid in full before I send documents for legalisation or release the completed papers to you. I do not charge VAT.

I prefer payment by bank transfer. My bank details appear on my invoices. I can accept cash, subject where necessary to the requirements of anti-money laundering legislation. I regret that I cannot accept payment by card or cheque.

Please read the other pages on this website with my Terms and Conditions, Data Protection Privacy Notice, other legal matters and the professional regulation of Notaries. There are also pages setting out my professional background and the history of Notaries generally, which you may find interesting.