Call us now:
Onah Attorneys Inc • Johannesburg
Notary Public – Notarial Certification, Apostilles & Authentication
Documents crossing borders — or requiring the highest form of legal authentication — need a notary public. We notarise documents for use abroad, arrange apostilles and embassy legalisation, and execute the notarial contracts South African law reserves for notaries: antenuptial contracts, notarial bonds, long-term lease registrations and servitudes. Fast turnarounds for emigration, foreign work and international transactions.
Call 011 042 8039Free Case AssessmentWhen you need notary public services
Documents required abroad — degrees, police clearances, company documents
Apostille certification under the Hague Convention
Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries (UAE, China, etc.)
Antenuptial contract execution
Notarial bonds over movable assets
Long-term leases (10+ years) and servitude registration
Certified copies with international recognition
Sworn translations coordination
How we handle your matter
Document check
We confirm what the receiving country actually requires — notarisation, apostille, legalisation or a chain of all three — before you pay for the wrong thing.
Notarisation
The notary authenticates signatures or copies under seal, with the notarial register entry foreign authorities can verify.
Apostille / legalisation
We route documents to DIRCO for apostilles or through the embassy legalisation chain for non-Hague destinations.
Notarial contracts
ANCs, notarial bonds and long leases are executed in protocol and registered at the Deeds Office where required.
Delivery
Couriered back to you or directly to the foreign institution, with certified duplicates retained in protocol.
Fees — transparent, agreed upfront
Notarisation is charged per document at fixed rates; apostille and legalisation packages are quoted upfront including DIRCO and courier legs. ANC execution is part of our fixed-fee ANC service.
Key legislation:
- Hague Apostille Convention 1961
- Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a commissioner of oaths and a notary?
A commissioner (any attorney, police station) certifies for domestic use. A notary is a specially admitted attorney whose authentication carries international weight and whose acts are registered in a protocol — required for foreign use and specific contracts.
What is an apostille?
A certificate under the Hague Convention that authenticates a South African public document for use in other member countries — issued by DIRCO (or the High Court for some documents), usually attached to a notarised original.
My destination country is not a Hague member — what then?
Full legalisation: notarisation, DIRCO authentication, then the destination country’s embassy legalises. We run the whole chain — common for UAE, China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
How long does an apostille take?
DIRCO walk-in turnaround varies from days to weeks. Our runner service typically completes standard apostilles within 5–10 working days, urgent options where available.
Which contracts must be notarially executed?
Antenuptial contracts, notarial bonds, long-term leases exceeding 10 years for registration, servitudes and cession of certain rights — an ordinary signature is invalid for these.
Can you notarise a copy of my degree for emigration?
Yes — we produce notarially certified copies and arrange apostille or legalisation as the receiving country requires, including SAQA verification coordination where needed.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about notary public services from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
Call 011 042 8039 Request a Callback