Notarising ID documents - is what my conveyancer requires excessive?

ce5656

Hi all, I’m in the process of buying a property and my mum sent me some money from overseas to cover the stamp duty. My conveyancer asked for her ID (passport and proof of address) and proof of funds. No problem, all done and translated to English. After the proof of address became more than three months old, my conveyancer then asked for my mum’s ID to be notarised. Fine, got a more recent proof of address and had that translated. In addition to the notarised copies of her passport and proof of address, she asked for a covering letter on headed notepaper and a form filled by the notary with contact details, a statement of what is being notarised and a copy of the notary’s practising certificate. 

At this point I still thought it’s reasonable, then my conveyancer asked for a “certified copy” of the notary’s certificate, not just a copy, to accompany the other documents required. The notary who’s UK qualified and based in the UK found it very strange. I asked my conveyancer about it and she said that the notary must have a “this is a true copy of the original” stamp to certify their own practising certificate?!

I mean…what is the point of certifying your own certificate? I told my conveyancer that the notary can be found on the Notaries Society’s website but she still refused to give in until I said “fine pass your manager’s contact details and I’ll speak with them myself”. She then changed her tone and said “just send me whatever you can get then”.

Am I being unreasonable here or is what she requires excessive?

Slithery

It really doesn't matter which one of you is being unreasonable. It's up to each individual solicitor what proof they require to satisfy money-laundering regulations.

Your only 2 options are to either provide whatever your solicitor asks for or use a different solicitor.

theartfullodger

The conveyancer's requirements are the conveyancer's requirements. 

Ain't gonna change.

Who chose them and on what basis please?

user1977

As you say, it's completely pointless for somebody to certify their own copy of their own certificate as a true copy.

It might make slightly more sense for somebody else to certify it - but then maybe they'd also want confirmation that the second notary is also qualified, etc etc....

Everything else sounds pretty standard and justifiable though.