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Law vocabulary · Legal Professions

Notary

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˈnəʊtəri/nounCommon term

In law, notary means: An official authorised to certify signatures and documents and to prepare certain legal deeds, so that they can be relied on in court or abroad.

In Turkish: noter

How it is used

Often called a 'notary public'. Documents are 'notarised' (US 'notarized') and may also need an apostille for use in another country. In civil law countries such as Turkey, notaries are trained lawyers with wide powers; in the US a notary public is usually not a lawyer and mainly witnesses signatures.

Example sentences

  1. The power of attorney must be signed before a notary.

  2. We need a notarised translation of the birth certificate.

Common collocations

  • notary public
  • before a notary
  • notarised copy
  • notarial deed
  • power of attorneyA legal document that gives one person the authority to act for another in legal or financial matters, such as signing contracts or managing a bank account.
  • affidavitA written statement of facts that a person signs and swears or affirms is true, usually in front of an authorised official, so that it can be used as evidence.
  • lawyerA person trained and qualified in law who advises clients and represents them in legal matters; the general word that covers attorneys, solicitors and barristers.
  • willA legal document in which a person states who should receive their property and money after they die, and who should manage this.

More terms: Legal Professions

Practise with graded reading

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.