What is a Notary Public?

A Notary or Notary Public is a specialist admitted attorney. In order to make an application to be admitted as a Notary by the High Court of South Africa, you must:

1. Be admitted as an attorney; and
2. Have passed the practical examination in respect of the practice, functions and duties of a Notary.

The Notaries of today originate from the scribes during early Hebrew, Greek and Egyptian times. The first Notary in South Africa was appointed in 1672.

The office of a Notary is a highly respected office of trust and the basic qualification of expertise is higher than that of an ordinary attorney.

Certain documents are required by law to be drawn by a Notary. The most common of these documents include:

• Antenuptial Contracts;
• Long Term Leases;
• Servitudes (personal and praedial);
• Cession of Rights in Sectional Title Schemes; and
• Notarial Bonds.

A Notary is further tasked to:

• Administer the oath or affirmation;
• Witness and authenticate the execution of documents for use inside and outside of South Africa;
• Protest Bills of Exchange;
• Prepare Ship Protests; and
• Certify Documents as True Copies.

Southey Attorneys Incorporated offer a full range of Notarial Document services visit the Notarial Services page to find out more.