Notary Public in Thailand. A Notary Public is a legal official licensed to practice the authentication of documents or signatures and to witness statements of individuals under oath. In Thailand, this role is filled by lawyers who pass a special training course provided by the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
Notarized documents are commonly required in international transactions, real estate transactions and immigration and visa matters. Baan Thai offers professional notary services and reliable translations all in one place on Wireless Road, close to most embassies.
Verification of Documents
Most countries have an official notary public who authenticates documents, signatures, affidavits or statements of individuals under oath. In Thailand, however, the notary public role is performed by a lawyer designated as Notarial Services Attorney by the Lawyers Council who can perform authentication services that are regulated by the Law Society Act.
Although Thai lawyers often claim to notarize or attest to the authenticity of signatures and documents, they are not doing so in their capacity as a notary public. These Thai notaries are merely using their status as a lawyer to put their pretty stamp on documents and therefore are virtually useless if they are ever challenged in a court of law.
Having a document verified by a notary can be very helpful if you need to use it overseas. However, since Thailand is not a member of the Hague Convention on Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (also known as the Apostille Convention), the documents that have been notarized in Thailand will need to be further legalized or authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand before they can be used in government offices abroad.
Witnessing Signatures
Many countries require that documents originating from or signed in their territory be authenticated by a notary public. This creates a guarantee on the authenticity of the signatures or documents. Documents that are not authenticated can never become enforceable or legally binding.
In most countries, the role of notary public is performed by officers appointed by the state. In Thailand, the notary role is entrusted to lawyers who have been granted the role of Notarial Services Attorney by the Lawyers Council and who are regulated under the Notarial Services Act B.E 2528.
A notary lawyer in Thailand can witness signatures on documents and verify the identity of the signatories, as well as administer oaths and affirmations. However, since Thailand is not a member of the Hague Convention on Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (or Apostille), any documents that were notarized in Thailand will still need to be further legalized or authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s Legalization Division before they can be used in Thai government offices.
Authentication of Documents
Documents that need to be used abroad will often require an official stamp or verification of authenticity from a notary public. This process, known as legalisation, can be required by various institutions, banks, embassies or even for individuals themselves to ensure that the documents they are submitting are authentic and genuine.
In most countries, a notary public is officially licensed to authenticate signatures and documents as well as witness affidavits and statements of persons under oath. This helps prevent fraudulent individuals from submitting inaccurate and unauthenticated documents to foreign authorities.
However, Thailand does not officially have a notary system in place. Instead, the Lawyers Council of Thailand has allowed some lawyers to act as notaries under their role as Notarial Services Attorneys. These Thai notaries are able to verify, witness and authenticate documents. In many cases the notary service will also be able to provide certification of translations, which is a critical function for international transactions and documentation.
Certification of Copies
The certification of copies by a notary public is an internationally recognized service. It involves verifying a person’s identity, witnessing the signing of documents, affirming their legitimacy with a stamp or seal, and in some cases administering oaths. This service is often required when submitting documents to institutions such as banks, embassies, schools, and government agencies.
Similarly to notaries in other countries, a Thailand Notary is an official that is fully licensed to put into practice the authentication of documents and signatures. In Thailand, this function is accomplished by an attorney-at-law regulated by the Thai Lawyer’s Council, who is accredited to conduct notary services, known as a Notarial Services Attorney.
For expats, business owners and legal professionals, notarized documents are a regular necessity to facilitate important transactions and legal proceedings. We are proud to offer notary and translation services all in one convenient location on Wireless Road. Contact us today to see how we can assist with your specific needs.