London solicitor for document certification?

Tiglet2

Don't post principal documents to the solicitor if not certified. They will just be returned to you. Posting original documents doesn't confirm that they're you.

eddddy

I find that the 'upmarket' solicitors with smart offices and high quality websites are less likely to certify copies of documents - unless you are their client for other matters.

So I google for local solicitors, and try the ones with less professional websites, and/or offices above shops or in side streets etc.

I've always managed to phone around and find one eventually - and they've always charged £5 per certified copy of each document.

mikespotted

Just so you know I used a firm recently in the City called GAD who I found on the web here: http:// blog.gadllp.co.uk/solicitor-document-certification-services-in-london/

They sorted me out by certifying my passport and council tax bill when I was selling my property. Not too expensive and were able to see me and stamp my docs quickly. They are near Chancery Lane underground and worth a try if you are short on time.

Thrugelmir

Local solicitors around here certify documents for £5 each with the proceeds going to Charity. Walk in off the street and a junior solicitor is summoned.

srosenc

For anyone who finds this forum in the future, I recently had the hardest time getting a document certified for a bank account opening (I'm an ex-pat) for cheap; I found this post through googling online but a lot of the advice (walk around/call around) isn't working since a lot of places are closed because of Covid. The bank wouldn't accept post office certification, and then I found a friend of a friend who is a chartered accountant who ended up doing it for cheap; he doesn't do them often historically but told me if anyone wants to use him in the future, that he could do it (Canary Wharf area!); just let me know and I can get you connected - just wanted to share because everything I kept finding was so expensive! 

eddddy

srosenc said:

For anyone who finds this forum in the future, I recently had the hardest time getting a document certified for a bank account opening (I'm an ex-pat) for cheap; I found this post through googling online but a lot of the advice (walk around/call around) isn't working since a lot of places are closed because of Covid. The bank wouldn't accept post office certification, and then I found a friend of a friend who is a chartered accountant who ended up doing it for cheap; he doesn't do them often historically but told me if anyone wants to use him in the future, that he could do it (Canary Wharf area!); just let me know and I can get you connected - just wanted to share because everything I kept finding was so expensive! 

In my experience, solicitors will only accept ID documents certified by another solicitor - a chartered accountant wouldn't be acceptable.

Perhaps banks are less strict.

srosenc

Thanks, this is good to call out - the bank will accept it as it’s on their specific “approved certifiers” list but good call out that it wouldn’t work for everyone. 

bhaisab

I know not your area... but if anyone searching for a firm in Leeds, try Karim & Co Solicitors in Leeds LS8, they charged me £30 for the ID1 form. and document certification was £5 per page.

As someone above suggested the fancy firms charge a lot more, I was quoted £630 + VAT for and ID1 form!
I found that smaller "high street" firms will be cheaper and more approachable... but they usually lack fancy/informative websites

micralw

srosenc said:

For anyone who finds this forum in the future, I recently had the hardest time getting a document certified for a bank account opening (I'm an ex-pat) for cheap; I found this post through googling online but a lot of the advice (walk around/call around) isn't working since a lot of places are closed because of Covid. The bank wouldn't accept post office certification, and then I found a friend of a friend who is a chartered accountant who ended up doing it for cheap; he doesn't do them often historically but told me if anyone wants to use him in the future, that he could do it (Canary Wharf area!); just let me know and I can get you connected - just wanted to share because everything I kept finding was so expensive! 

Hi, was your friend able to provide the stamp to verify your signature too? 

I'm looking for someone to act as a notary and need one signature verified. If they're near Canary wharf then that's perfect. 

MaryNB

eddddy said:

srosenc said:

For anyone who finds this forum in the future, I recently had the hardest time getting a document certified for a bank account opening (I'm an ex-pat) for cheap; I found this post through googling online but a lot of the advice (walk around/call around) isn't working since a lot of places are closed because of Covid. The bank wouldn't accept post office certification, and then I found a friend of a friend who is a chartered accountant who ended up doing it for cheap; he doesn't do them often historically but told me if anyone wants to use him in the future, that he could do it (Canary Wharf area!); just let me know and I can get you connected - just wanted to share because everything I kept finding was so expensive! 

In my experience, solicitors will only accept ID documents certified by another solicitor - a chartered accountant wouldn't be acceptable.

Perhaps banks are less strict.

My solicitor accepted my parents IDs (for gifted deposit anti money laundering checks) certified by an accountant.