Lucas Notary
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+44 7307 125088

Notary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areas

Notary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areas

Christopher James Lucas, Notary Public

Enquire by email

+44 7307 125088

Notary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areas

Notary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areasNotary services in St. Albans, Hertford and the surrounding areas

Christopher James Lucas, Notary Public

Enquire by email

- Notarial services in Hertfordshire -

About Me

My name is Chris and I am a Notary Public. I practise mainly in St Albans and Hertford, as well as the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, England. 


I handle all aspects of notarial work, including:

  • Affidavits 
  • Arranging apostille and legalisation of documents
  • Authentication of company documentation
  • Certificates of law
  • Certification of education/degree certificates
  • Notarial certificates
  • Powers of attorney
  • Statutory declarations
  • Verification of identity


Alongside my notarial practice, I am also a Private Client Solicitor with over 11 years’ experience, specialising in Wills, Trusts and Probate. My legal background provides a strong foundation for my work as a notary, however my employment as a solicitor is entirely separate from my notarial practice.


I can see clients during office hours at the St. Albans office of Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors, which is where I am based. I am also able travel to clients' homes or premises in all areas surrounding Hertford, which is where I live, as well as St. Albans and the rest of East and Central Hertfordshire.


I can offer evening and weekend appointments, subject to my availability. 

- How can I help? -

Services for Individuals

Services for Individuals

Services for Individuals

 Powers of Attorney 

Giving someone abroad authority to act on your behalf e.g. for a property transaction or dealing with any foreign official procedures


Certification of copies of documents 

e.g. identity documents, education certificates, professional qualifications.


Confirmation of facts 

e.g. declaration of freedom to marry or of continuing entitlement to receive a foreign pension


Confirmation of any sort of formal qualification

Verifying academic, professional or vocational qualifications for use overseas


Statutory declarations, affidavits and statements on any subject

Witnessing formal statements on any subject required by foreign authorities


Execution of foreign wills

i.e. prepared abroad dealing with foreign assets


Asset transfers 

e.g. property transfers, share transfer forms etc.

Services for Businesses

Services for Individuals

Services for Individuals

Powers of Attorney on behalf of companies 

e.g. creating a subsidiary company, renewing a patent, conducting litigation, representing an English company overseas


Confirmation of existence of a company registered in England 

Checking and verifying company constitutional documents, preparing notarial certificates


Verification of identity for corporate transactions

e.g. certifying identity documents for company officers and, where applicable, confirming the identity of beneficial owners


Certification of corporate documents for use overseas
e.g. board resolutions, minutes, shareholder agreements, incorporation documents


Certification of documents for regulatory and compliance purposes
e.g. anti‑money laundering (AML) documentation, KYC verification, compliance statements

Arranging Legalisation

Services for Individuals

Arranging Legalisation

What is legalisation?

Legalisation is a process whereby a notary's signature and seal are verified by independent government officials. Depending on the document and country, legalisation is normally needed before the notarised document can be recognised and accepted in the receiving jurisdiction.


Legalisation and Apostille

I can assist you with this process. Usually, it will involve applying to the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office for an apostille to be attached to the notarised document. 


Consular legalisation

Some countries will require legalisation by their own consulate in England, which is normally an additional step to obtaining an apostille.


Legalisation agent

Like many notaries, I use a legalisation agent to assist with the above.

- Frequently Asked Questions -

Please reach me at chris@lucasnotary.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

As a Notary Public, my role is to verify, authenticate and certify documents so they can be used overseas. When a foreign authority asks for a document to be “notarised,” they are asking for confirmation that the signature, identity or document is genuine and has been properly executed. My work ensures that your documents will be recognised and accepted abroad without delay.

Although both notaries and solicitors are qualified lawyers, and even though many notaries are also solicitors, the two roles serve very different purposes. 


A solicitor provides legal advice, prepares legal documents and represents clients in a wide range of matters within England and Wales. Solicitors usually specialise in a specific area of law. For example, I specialise in Wills, Trusts and Probate in my work as a solicitor. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).


A Notary Public, by contrast, is a specialist lawyer whose primary role is to verify and authenticate documents for use abroad. Notaries deal with non‑contentious matters and must remain independent from the transaction itself.  Notaries in England and Wales are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Yes, the two terms are interchangeable. In England and Wales, the full and formal title is "Notary Public". Most people shorten this to "Notary" and that is perfectly acceptable. Both terms refer to the same regulated profession.

No. As a Notary Public, my role is to authenticate documents for international use only, not to advise on whether a document is suitable for your particular legal needs. I ensure that any signatures are genuine, that identities are duly verified, and that documents meet the formal requirements of both England & Wales and the country in which they will be relied upon. I cannot provide legal advice on the content or effect of any document you bring to me. If you have any concerns about a document which you have been asked to get notarised, you should seek legal advice first.

In some limited situations, I can notarise documents remotely, but this is not always possible. For new clients in particular, I will normally need to meet you face‑to‑face at least once so that I can verify your identity and complete the necessary checks. Even if remote notarisation is an option, certain documents must be physically witnessed, and many foreign authorities will not accept witnessing by video call. In those cases, we would need to check the requirements of the country involved and arrange an in‑person appointment if needed. If you are unsure whether your document can be dealt with remotely, I can advise you on the options available.

You will usually need to bring the document to be notarised (unless you have sent me an electronic copy in advance in which case I will usually print the document for you), your original valid photo ID (such as a passport or driving licence, a copy of which I will usually ask you to provide in advance of the meeting), and proof of address. In some cases, additional documents may be required depending on the country involved.

Some countries require an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and others require further embassy legalisation. I can arrange this for you if required and my normal process is to use a legalisation agent. If you are not sure whether legalisation is required, you should check with the receiving party. 

I charge a minimum notarial fee of £120 in all cases, however the actual costs will depend on the complexity of the instruction and whether legalisation is required. In most cases, I will charge a fixed fee to include all the necessary disbursements. Disbursements are expenses such as legalisation fees, postage and courier costs, consular agent fees and travel expenses. I do not currently charge VAT on my fees. For more details on my charges, please see my Price Information and Terms of Business in the Key Documents section of my website.

Most appointments take around 15–30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the document and the checks required. More complex matters or documents requiring legalisation may take longer. 


In addition to the appointment time, my time will typically be spent on preparing for the appointment (which in addition to reviewing the document and instructions might involve making edits and liaising with foreign lawyers as required), sealing and sewing documents either at or following our appointment, and dealing with all necessary administration to include arranging legalisation, couriering documents and maintaining my notarial register to comply with my record-keeping obligations.

Copyright © 2025 Chris Lucas Notary Public - All Rights Reserved.


Christopher James Lucas ("the Notary") is a Notary Public trading as Chris Lucas Notary Public with address Ivy House, 107 St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3EW.


Regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.


For the avoidance of any doubt, whilst the Notary's office is based at Debenhams Ottaway LLP in St Albans, the Notary's notarial practice is completely independent of Debenhams Ottaway LLP and is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and not by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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