Older Than Solicitors, Older Than Barristers, and one of the oldest professions – The Notary Public
Most of us never give notaries a second thought until we need one. A bank overseas, a foreign university or an international property deal asks for a document to be “notarised”, and only then do we discover this quiet corner of the legal world.
What almost no one realises is that the notary’s seal carries with it one of the oldest and most curious threads of authority in English law, one that runs all the way back to Henry VIII and, before him, to the medieval Popes.
Here is the story
Notaries are the oldest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales, older than solicitors and barristers, with roots in the medieval church and, before that, in ancient Rome. For centuries, the power to appoint a notary in this country flowed from the Pope in Rome.
Then came the Reformation. In 1531, Henry VIII declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England. The Holy Roman Emperor’s ambassador in London remarked that it was almost as though the King had made himself Pope of England. With that, the power to appoint notaries, along with a great deal else, passed from Rome to the Crown.
Two years later Parliament passed the Ecclesiastical Licences Act of 1533, which remains in force to this day. Under it, notaries came to be appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, acting through his Faculty Office, under the Archbishop’s own seal. Nearly five hundred years later, that is still exactly how it is done. Every notary in England and Wales, our own included, holds a faculty issued in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
There is a further intriguing point that lawyers have debated for three centuries. Writing in 1726, the canon lawyer John Ayliffe described the creation of notaries as a mark of sovereign majesty reserved to the Crown, in other words, an exercise of the royal prerogative. On that view, when a notary applies their seal, they are wielding an authority that is, in a very real sense, royal.
Why does any of this matter to you?
Because it is precisely this long, unbroken and carefully guarded lineage that makes a notary’s seal trusted the world over. When a foreign government, bank or court sees the seal of an English notary, it knows it is looking at the product of a system with five centuries of standing behind it. That is why a notarised document can open doors abroad that an ordinary signature simply cannot.
At Garner & Hancock, Vinay Tanna is a Notary Public of England and Wales. We notarise documents for use in countries across the globe, from powers of attorney and company documents to certified copies, affidavits and consents for children travelling abroad, and we arrange the apostille and embassy legalisation that often follows.
If you have been asked to have a document notarised, or you would simply like to know whether you need a notary at all, we would be glad to help. You can reach Vinay directly at vtanna@garner-hancock.co.uk, with appointments available in Old Isleworth, Hampton and, by arrangement, Stanmore and Elstree. You can expect five‑star service, as reflected in the reviews below.
I am very pleased with the service I received from Garner & Hancock Solicitors for notarisation and apostille services. Vinay Tanna was extremely helpful, provided quick responses, and kept me informed throughout the process. The communication was excellent, and everything was handled efficiently and professionally. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would highly recommend their services to friends and family.
Sree Patibandla September 2026
Vinay is a great notary, and he’s got a lovely team assisting him. I got my appointment on the same day and have already received the documents I needed the letter for. Thank you very much!
A Ku June 2026
A seal five centuries in the making, working for you.