David Ian Searle

Appointments

I can arrange to see you at my office in Plymouth, or at my home office in Avonwick at the addresses above. I can also exceptionally arrange to see you at your home or place of work, normally within 20 miles of the centre of Plymouth. A workplace or home visit will incur an additional charge which I will agree with you in advance.

Most appointments last approximately 30 minutes but longer if the work requires.
It is usually possible to arrange meetings with me at short notice, generally within 24 hours.
Weekend appointments are not usually available.

You will need to bring with you to your appointment:

1. The document or documents which require my seal and signature. Please do not sign the document or have it witnessed beforehand. It is imperative that everything is done in my presence.
2. Any instructions which have been given by the lawyer who has prepared the document. There are sometimes requirements about signing each page or even the colour of the ink.
3. You passport or if you have no passport a government issued document which bears you photograph such as a modern driving licence and a document which proves where you live such as a recent utility bill or a bank statement. If you have difficulty producing such original documents I shall need to discuss with you what evidence of identity I shall need to see to satisfy myself that you are the person you say you are.
4. If you have received the document electronically, please forward the document to me by e-mail to david.searle@notaryplymouth.com in advance of the appointment. Please check the document carefully for errors in your name, address and passport number. If I have received the document electronically I should be able to make any necessary amendments to the document.

Key Stages and General Procedures

Generally speaking, a typical matter will proceed as follows:

• Initial enquiry, by phone or in writing
• I will ask you to supply electronic copies of the documents if possible so that I can view them and see what needs to be done.
• I will provide an accurate quote and an indication of availability and timescale for completing the matter.
• An appointment will be set up between us at a convenient time. I will outline exactly what you need to bring to the meeting.
• I will carry out identity verification and other checks as well as considering any drafting amendments that are required.
• We will meet at my office in Plymouth or Avonwick, at which time you will produce your photo identification and proof of address. ID documents will be examined and assessed in accordance with government-issued guidance (www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraudulent-identity-documents).
• I will complete my Notarial Certificate. This will generally be at the meeting but occasionally the documents may have to be returned to you at a later date.
• If you have instructed me to obtain an Apostille, I will do so using Consular Agents. Alternatively, I can advise you on how to make a postal application yourself. You can find an overview of the legalisation process at: https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised. Legalisation can take between a day to several weeks depending on what is required but I will advise you on the timescale in your matter.
• I will issue my invoice to you for immediate payment. The invoice will usually be handed to you or sent by email.
• Most meetings last approximately 30-45 minutes, or as the matter requires.