Notary Public and Notarial Services

 

 

Neither Laminated or Certified documents are accepted by DIRCO.

The signing requirements for notarial documents depend on the destination country. In some cases, the document must be signed only in the presence of a Notary Public, while other countries may require additional witnesses to be present alongside the Notary Public.

Once the document has been notarised, further steps may be required for international recognition. These include
Apostille certification by the High Court of South Africa (for countries part of the Hague Apostille Convention).
Authentication or legalisation by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) or other relevant government offices (for countries not part of the Hague Convention).

The specific process will depend on the type of document and its intended destination. To ensure compliance, consult with a Notary Public familiar with international requirements

A notarised copy of a document is a verified true copy of the original. Notarisation serves as a legal safeguard to prevent fraud and confirm the document's authenticity. It is commonly required for legal proceedings, international transactions, business agreements, immigration processes, and property transfers.

A certified translation is one that fulfills the requirements in the country in question, enabling it to be used in formal procedures, with the translator accepting responsibility for its accuracy. In South Africa these translators are registered at the local High Court. These translations can be Apostilled or Attested for use outside of South Africa.
 

A Notary Public is an attorney admitted and authorised by the High Court of South Africa to witness signatures, draft and attest contracts or statements, and authenticate the validity of certain documents.  

Notaries are held to a higher standard of care than regular attorneys due to the ethical nature of their work and their specialised expertise in drafting and legalising important documents. As a result, the role of a Notary Public is highly regarded and trusted in legal and official matters.

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Notary Public and Notarial Services

A Notary Public is a specialist attorney authorised to prepare, certify, and authenticate certain legal documents for official use. In South Africa, notarial services are often required when documents must be recognised by foreign governments, courts, or institutions — or when a higher level of formal legal certification is needed.

At VDM Attorneys, we provide efficient and fully compliant notarial services for individuals, businesses, and organisations. Whether you need a document notarised for international use, a notarial contract drafted, or assistance with the legalisation of documents, our notary is qualified to guide you through the process with accuracy and professionalism.

Notary public and notarial services

Key Responsibilities of a Notary Public

  • Identity Verification Confirming the identities of individuals signing documents.
  • Awareness Assurance Ensuring signatories fully understand the content and implications of the documents they are signing.
  • Administering Oaths Placing individuals under oath or affirmation when necessary.
  • Impartial Service Providing unbiased, fair, and equal treatment throughout the process.

Our Notarial Services 

Our notary provides a full range of professional notarial services, supporting clients with both routine and specialised certification needs. These services are often required for personal, commercial, or cross-border legal matters.

We assist with:

  • Notarial authentication of documents for international use
  • Notarising documents such as affidavits, declarations, and powers of attorney
  • Drafting and executing notarial contracts, including antenuptial contracts and servitudes
  • Preparing and certifying notarial deeds for registration with the Deeds Office
  • Obtaining apostilles and facilitating the legalisation of documents through DIRCO or relevant embassies
  • Issuing notarial certification of originals and certified copies of official documents
  • Attesting to signatures and verifying the identity and capacity of signatories

Certifying personal and official documents, including:

  • Identity documents and passports
  • Birth, marriage, and death certificates
  • Academic qualifications and educational transcripts
  • Police clearance certificates
  • Single-status affidavits and divorce decrees
  • Other official certificates required for use abroad

Certain legal documents in South Africa are required by law to be notarised in order to meet statutory or registration requirements.

These include:

  • Antenuptial contracts – Essential for marriages out of community of property
  • Long-term leases and servitudes – Including personal and praedial servitudes over immovable property
  • Notarial bonds – Used to secure movable property as collateral for a debt
  • Cessions of rights – Often applicable in sectional title schemes or when transferring limited real rights

All documents are processed in compliance with the requirements of the High Court of South Africa and, where applicable, international treaty obligations such as the Hague Apostille Convention.

Specialised Notarial Services

In addition to standard certification and contract work, we also assist with:

  • Protesting bills of exchange – Ensuring formal compliance in commercial transactions
  • Ship protests – Preparing marine declarations in matters involving maritime damage, delay, or legal disputes at sea

Why Choose VDM Attorneys Notarial Services?

We offer professional, compliant, and reliable notarial support for a wide range of personal and commercial legal matters.

Clients choose our notarial services for:

  • Expertise you can trust - Our notaries are qualified attorneys with specialised training in notarial law. Every document is handled with precision, professionalism, and legal integrity.
  • Comprehensive legal support - We oversee the full process — from identity verification to final certification — with services recognised both locally and internationally.
  • Efficient and reliable service - We streamline the notarial process to minimise delays and ensure that your documents are finalised quickly and correctly.

Contact us for professional notarial services you can rely on.