A Notary Public can authenticate and certify documents.
The process of authenticating a document is called notarisation. In most cases, the notary will attach a notarial certificate to the document in order to authenticate it and convert it into what is called a ‘notarial act’. The process involves verifying your identity and signature and witnessing the document at the time of signing. The notary must also ensure that that you understand what you are signing. Your signature will then be accompanied by the notary’s individual stamp or seal.

Once a document has been notarised, it confirms that all legal requirements have been complied with and overseas organisations and authorities can trust its authenticity.

Certification is the process of verifying that a copy of a document is a true, complete and up to date copy of the original. It is not a verification of the contents of the document itself, but does confirm that the notary has seen the original document.