A national directory of public notaries
A notary public, public notary, or notary, is a public officer, usually a practising solicitor or attorney, appointed for life by a State or Territory Supreme Court, or by an English Archbishop in the case of Queensland, and given statutory powers to witness documents, administer oaths, and perform other wide-ranging administrative functions of a national and international nature.
A Notary Public not only takes oaths, signs and witnesses documents for use within Australia, but also performs similar functions in respect of international documents for use outside Australia.
Justices of the Peace (JPs) in Australia provide services similar to American notaries, but are not permitted to witness documents for use in foreign countries. Notaries have this exclusive right and are the only true international "JP's" in Australia.
Notaries Public affix their official seal (usually impressed onto a red sticker) or stamp, onto documents immediately under, adjacent or as near as possible to their signatures.
All Notaries' seals and signatures are officially recorded in a data base held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), an Australian government department authorised to issue Apostille or Authentication Certificates certifying that the signatures, seals or stamps of Notaries on Australian public documents are geniune.
Public Notaries also have their signatures, seals or stamps registered with their State or Territory Supreme Court to whom they are answerable to, and with their local Notary Society, if one exists in their State or Territory, and if a member.
A Notary Public principally:
Attests documents and certifies their due execution for use in Australia and overseas countries
Prepares and certifies powers of attorney, wills, deeds, contracts and other legal documents, for use in Australia and overseas countries
Administers oaths for Australian and international documents
Witnesses signatures to affidavits, statutory declarations, powers of attorney, contracts, and other documents, for use in Australia and overseas countries
Verifies documents for use in Australia and overseas countries
Certifies copy documents for use in Australia and overseas countries
Exemplifies official documents for use internationally
Notes and protests bills of exchange
Prepares ships' protests
