NOTARY PUBLIC FEES IN NIGERIA
The procedure for how to notarize a document in Nigeria requires a person seeking to notarize a document to submit the relevant document that requires notarization to a Notary Public.A document may only be accepted internationally if it has been notarized or authenticated and its genuineness confirmed by a Notary Public.
Notarization of a document is done by a Notary Public. A Notary Public is, therefore, a public official, usually lawyer, authorized to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents, verification and authentication of documents amidst other functions.
The Notary Public Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is the law guiding the Notary Public and the notarization of documents in Nigeria. This Act clearly defines the roles, the appointment, responsibilities of Notary Public in Nigeria.
Whenever a Notary has notarized or certified any document, such a document must be sealed with the notary’s seal or stamp and recorded in a register permanently kept by him. A person who can notarize a document in Nigeria is a practising lawyer who has been appointed as a Notary Public by the government.
IMPORTANCE OF NOTARIZING A DOCUMENT
The importance or benefits of notarizing a document comprises the following:
- To verify that signatures, marks and copies of documents are true or genuine.
- Helps to prevent the usage of a fraudulent document.
- The presence of a notary seal in any document confirms for the court that the signatures in that document were placed by genuine person and it is not fabricated.
- It is required where a document before an authentication and/or legalization of any certificate or document at any embassy in Nigeria.
COST OF NOTARIZING A DOCUMENT IN NIGERIA
There is no fixed cost for notarizing a document in Nigeria. The cost depends on the Notary Public officer involved and the number of documents to be notarized. A person seeking to notarize a document in Nigeria should visit or call a Notary Public for the fee. However, most Notary Public usually charge from N10,000 in Nigeria.
Finally, it is not compulsory to notarize all legal documents, but in some cases a notarization of document may be a mandatory requirement. If a person refused to notarize a document, which requires notarization, then the validity of such a document will be questionable and may not be accepted for any official purpose by any authority or court of law in case such a document is required to be tendered as an exhibit before any court. And where a notarized document is also required to be used for any official purpose oversea, it must also be authenticated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Email: info@resoluionlawng.com
Phone: +2348099223322
