Home / FAQ / Notary Public / Notarial Services Attorney

Notary Public / Notarial Services Attorney

Signature and copy certification by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand — Thailand's equivalent of a notary public.

Does Thailand have notaries public?

Thailand has no notary public in the common-law sense; the equivalent function is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney — a Thai lawyer who has completed the Lawyers Council of Thailand's notarial services course and is registered to certify signatures, copies, and statutory declarations. Foreign authorities routinely accept these certifications, and when the destination expects apostille-style authentication the certification is followed by MFA and embassy legalization.

What documents can a Notarial Services Attorney certify?

Commonly certified items include signatures on powers of attorney, affidavits and statutory declarations, certified true copies of passports and corporate documents, company resolutions and share transfer forms, sponsorship and consent letters, and the identity of a signatory for foreign banks, universities and courts. The attorney certifies the signing act or copy fidelity — not the truth of the content.

Do I have to sign in person?

Yes. The attorney must see the signatory in person together with the original passport or Thai ID before certifying a signature, which is the core safeguard of the service. Remote or scanned signatures cannot be certified. Mobile appointments at your office, condominium lobby or a nearby café are available if you cannot come to ours.

How much does notarial certification cost and how fast is it?

Attorney notarial certification starts at about THB 1,500 per document, with the final price depending on the number of documents, signatories and whether the appointment is mobile or out of hours. The certification itself is completed during the appointment; only the subsequent MFA and embassy steps add working days.

Can a document in a language I don't read be certified?

The signatory must understand what they are signing, so if the document is in a language you do not read we arrange a translation or an interpreter before the appointment. Signing a document you cannot read exposes the certification to challenge at the destination and is a common reason foreign authorities question a file.

Is notarial certification alone enough for use abroad?

It depends entirely on the receiving party. Banks, universities and many companies accept the attorney's certification on its own, while courts, land registries and immigration authorities typically require the chain of MFA legalization and destination-embassy certification on top. Tell us the receiving institution and we will map the exact chain before you sign.

Does Thailand have notaries public?

Thailand has no notary public in the common-law sense. The equivalent is a Notarial Services Attorney — a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage who has completed the council's notarial services course and holds a current registration number. Their certification is what foreign banks, universities and courts accept from Thailand.

What can a Notarial Services Attorney certify?

Signature witnessing, certified true copies of passports and documents, affidavits and statutory declarations, certificates of identity and residence, powers of attorney, corporate resolutions and signatory authority, and document date/receipt attestations. They cannot legalize on behalf of the Thai government — that remains the Department of Consular Affairs' role.

What do I need to bring to a notarisation appointment?

The original document to be signed (unsigned — you must sign in front of the attorney), your passport or Thai ID, and any supporting proof the receiving party requires, such as a company certificate for corporate signings. Signing beforehand is the most common reason an appointment has to be repeated.

Is notarisation alone enough for use abroad?

It depends on the receiving party. Universities, banks and private companies usually accept the notarial certificate alone, while courts, land registries and immigration authorities often require it to be legalized afterwards at the Department of Consular Affairs and then at the destination embassy. Confirm the requirement before you pay for extra steps you may not need.

Can a notarisation be done online or outside the office?

Mobile notarisation at your office, hotel, hospital or a bank branch is available, and preparation can be handled remotely, but the attorney must physically witness the signature, so the signing itself is in person. Fully remote online notarisation is not recognised under the Lawyers Council framework.

How do I verify that an attorney is genuinely registered?

Ask for the notarial services registration number and the lawyer's licence number, both of which appear on the certification page and can be checked with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Receiving authorities abroad increasingly verify this, so a certificate without a visible registration number is a risk.

Can documents in a foreign language be notarised?

Yes — the attorney certifies the signature or the copy, not the content, so the document language does not block notarisation. However, if the document will then be legalized in Thailand or filed with a Thai authority, a Thai translation is required, and we prepare it alongside so the two steps do not fall out of sync.

How quickly can a notarisation be arranged?

Same-day or next-day in Bangkok in most cases, and often within an hour for a straightforward signature or true-copy certification if documents are sent for review in advance. Corporate sets involving board resolutions and multiple signatories take longer because signatory authority must be verified first.

What corporate documents are most often notarised?

Powers of attorney for overseas subsidiaries, board and shareholder resolutions, certificates of incumbency, signature specimen certificates for foreign bank accounts, distribution and agency agreements, and IP assignment deeds. These almost always continue to MFA and embassy legalization, so we plan the full chain at the first appointment.

Does Thailand have Notaries Public in the common-law sense?

No. Thailand has Notarial Services Attorneys — lawyers licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage after completing the Council's notarial services course and holding a current registration. They perform the functions a notary performs elsewhere, such as witnessing signatures and certifying copies, but the title and the underlying authority are different, and documents should describe the signer accurately as a Notarial Services Attorney.

What can a Notarial Services Attorney actually certify?

Typical acts are witnessing and certifying a signature, certifying that a copy is a true copy of an original produced to the attorney, administering affidavits and statutory declarations, certifying that a person appeared on a given date, and certifying corporate signing authority against company records. The attorney certifies the act of signing or the fidelity of the copy — not that the statements in the document are true.

Which documents usually need notarisation in Thailand?

Powers of attorney for use abroad, affidavits and statutory declarations, university application forms, bank and sponsorship letters, share transfer and board documents, parental consent letters for minors travelling, and copies of passports and diplomas for overseas institutions. Anything signed privately rather than issued by a Thai government office generally needs notarisation before the MFA will legalize it.

Do I have to appear in person to have a signature notarised?

Yes for signature witnessing — the attorney must see the person sign or acknowledge the signature, together with the original identity document. Certifying true copies also requires the original to be produced, though the holder can be represented in some cases. Remote video notarisation is not part of the Lawyers Council framework, so plan for one physical appointment.

What identification is required at the appointment?

A valid passport for foreign nationals or a Thai national ID card, plus the original of any document being copy-certified. For corporate signings the attorney also needs a recent company affidavit and the shareholder or board document showing the signatory's authority, since certifying capacity requires evidence, not just an assertion.

Is a notarised document automatically valid overseas?

No. Notarisation is usually only the first link — most foreign authorities require the notarised document to be legalized by the Department of Consular Affairs and then certified by their own embassy in Bangkok, or apostilled where that route applies to the country in question. Sending a notarised-only document abroad is the most common reason a file is returned unprocessed.

Can a Notarial Services Attorney notarise a document in English?

Yes. Documents in English are notarised routinely, and the attorney's certificate is issued in English so the receiving authority can read it. Where the document is in a third language, the attorney will normally require a translation so that the content being witnessed is understood before the certificate is signed.

How long is a notarised document valid?

The notarisation does not expire, but receiving authorities commonly impose their own limits — three to six months is typical for powers of attorney, bank letters and consent letters used in visa and property matters. Because the underlying facts can change, many overseas registries prefer a document notarised within the last 90 days.

Can a company outside Thailand have its documents notarised here?

The signing must happen in Thailand before a Thai Notarial Services Attorney, so a director or authorised representative has to attend in person while in the country. If nobody can travel, the alternative is to notarise in the company's own jurisdiction and then run the incoming legalization chain — home-country certification, Thai embassy or apostille, Thai translation and MFA legalization — before the document is used here.

What is a certified true copy and when is one enough?

A certified true copy is a photocopy on which the attorney states that it matches an original produced to them, and it is enough whenever the receiving authority allows a copy — most university and bank files, many visa checklists and internal corporate records. Immigration departments, land registries and courts generally still require the original or an official copy issued by the issuing authority itself.

Who can act as a notary in Thailand?

Thailand has no civil-law notary profession. The equivalent function is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney, a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage who has completed the council's notarial training and holds a current registration. Documents notarised by anyone without that registration are open to challenge abroad.

What can a Notarial Services Attorney certify?

Signature witnessing, certification of true copies, affidavits and statutory declarations, powers of attorney, certificates of free will and identity, confirmation that a document was signed on a given date, and certification of company documents and board resolutions. The attorney certifies the act of signing and the identity of the signer, not the truth of every commercial statement inside the document.

Does notarisation alone make my document valid overseas?

Often not by itself. Many foreign authorities want the notarised document then legalized by the Department of Consular Affairs and, where required, endorsed by the destination embassy. Common-law recipients such as the US, UK and Australia frequently accept notarisation alone; civil-law recipients usually do not.

What do I need to bring to a notarisation appointment?

The original document unsigned, your passport or Thai ID, and any supporting proof the receiving party requires such as a company certificate for corporate signings. Do not sign before the appointment: the attorney must witness the signature, and a pre-signed document has to be reprinted and executed again.

Can notarisation be done outside Bangkok or at my office?

Yes. Appointments are available in Bangkok and, through our branch network and travelling attorneys, in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Khon Kaen and other provinces, and on-site attendance at an office, hospital or residence can be arranged for signatories who cannot travel.

Is remote or online notarisation available in Thailand?

Thailand does not operate a formal remote online notarisation regime comparable to some US states, and most receiving authorities expect physical attendance before the attorney. Where a foreign body explicitly permits a video-witnessed signing under its own rules, we confirm those rules in writing before scheduling rather than assuming acceptance.

Which documents most often need notarisation for expatriates?

Powers of attorney for property or bank matters abroad, affidavits of income or single status, consent letters for a child to travel, certified copies of passports for overseas account opening, university document copies, and declarations required by pension or insurance bodies. Each recipient tends to have its own wording, so working from their template is faster than drafting fresh.

Can the notarised document be in English only?

Yes. Notarial certificates are commonly issued in English, and a Thai translation is added only where a Thai authority will also read the document. If the document continues to MFA legalization, the Thai-side requirements apply to the underlying document, so we plan the language mix before the signing rather than after.

How quickly can a notarisation be arranged?

Same-day or next-day appointments are usually available in Bangkok, and provincial appointments typically need one to three days' notice depending on attorney travel. Where the document must also be legalized and endorsed at an embassy, the notarisation is the fastest link in the chain and should be booked early so it does not delay the rest.

What are the most common reasons a notarised document is later rejected?

The signer signed before the appointment, the attorney's registration details are absent, the certificate wording does not match what the receiving body requires, an exhibit referred to in the affidavit is not attached and initialled, or the document needed consular legalization that was never obtained. All five are avoidable by confirming the recipient's checklist in advance.

Who is legally permitted to act as a notary in Thailand?

Only a lawyer who holds a current Thai lawyer licence and has completed the Lawyers Council of Thailand's notarial services course, registered as a Notarial Services Attorney. Thailand has no separate civil-law notary profession. Where a foreign authority asks for a notary public, the Notarial Services Attorney is the recognised equivalent, and the certificate states that registration expressly.

What acts can a Notarial Services Attorney perform?

Certifying signatures, certifying that a copy is a true copy of an original produced at the appointment, administering oaths and affirmations, certifying the identity of the signatory, and witnessing the execution of documents including powers of attorney and affidavits. The attorney certifies what was observed, not the truth of the document's contents.

Must I attend in person for notarisation?

Yes for anything involving your signature or identity, because the certificate records that you appeared and were identified. Bring the original passport, not a copy. Document-only certifications, such as a true copy of a company extract, can be handled by an authorised representative producing the original.

Does a notarised document need further legalisation?

It depends on the receiving authority. Many overseas banks, universities and companies accept the notarial certificate alone. Government registries in a foreign country usually want the chain continued through the Department of Consular Affairs and that country's embassy. Ask the receiving body which layer it requires before buying the longer chain.

Can a notary certify a document written in a language the attorney does not read?

The attorney can certify the signature or the fact of appearance regardless of the document's language, because those facts are observed. Certifying a true copy of a foreign-language document is also possible since it is a comparison exercise. What is not possible is certifying content, which is why a certified translation accompanies the notarised document when the receiving authority needs to read it.

What identification is accepted at a notarial appointment?

A current passport for foreign nationals and a Thai national ID card for Thai nationals. Expired identification is not accepted because the certificate asserts current identity. For company signings, add the company affidavit and the board resolution or power of attorney showing the signatory's authority, since the attorney records the capacity in which the person signed.

Can a notarial certificate be issued in a language other than English?

Yes. English is standard, and certificates are also issued in other languages or bilingually where the receiving authority requires it. Where a foreign form prescribes exact wording, that form is used verbatim; substituting a general certificate is the most frequent cause of refusal by pension authorities and foreign registries.

How quickly can a notarisation be arranged?

Same-day or next-day in Bangkok for straightforward signature and copy certifications, provided the document is final and the signatory attends with valid identification. Files needing drafting, translation or a subsequent legalisation chain take longer, and the embassy stage rather than the notarisation is what sets the overall date.

Is a notarised power of attorney signed in Thailand valid overseas?

It is valid if it meets the destination's formal requirements, which frequently go beyond notarisation. Many land registries and courts abroad require specific wording, a prescribed form, witnesses in addition to the notary, or subsequent consular legalisation. Obtain the destination's template first and notarise that, rather than notarising a general form and hoping it passes.

Can a notary certify a copy of a passport that is not physically present?

No. A true copy certification requires the original to be produced and compared at the appointment. Certifying from a scan would be a statement the attorney cannot make. Where the holder is abroad, the copy is certified by a notary or consular officer in that country instead and then enters the legalisation chain from there.

Who is legally permitted to perform notarial acts in Thailand?

Only a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand who has completed the Council's notarial services course and holds a current registration number — the Notarial Services Attorney. Thailand never adopted the civil-law notariat, so there is no public officer equivalent to a German Notar or a French notaire. Every certificate we issue records the attorney's registration number so the receiving authority can verify it against the Council register.

Can a document be notarised if the signer cannot attend in person?

No. Personal attendance is the substance of the act — the attorney is certifying that the signature was executed in their presence, which cannot be done retrospectively or from a scan. Where the signer genuinely cannot travel, the workable alternatives are to notarise before a Thai embassy abroad, to split a joint instrument into two parallel declarations each executed where its signer is, or to reschedule at one of our branches closer to the signer.

What identification does a corporate signatory need to bring?

A current passport or Thai ID card, plus the company affidavit issued by the Department of Business Development showing that the individual is an authorised director and how signing authority is exercised — jointly or singly, with or without the company seal. Counterparties commonly require the affidavit to be recently issued, so check the freshness window they specify before the appointment rather than after.

Can an attorney certify that the contents of a document are true?

No, and any certificate claiming to do so should be treated as defective. The attorney certifies acts they personally witnessed or performed: a signature executed before them, a copy compared against an original, an oath administered. The truth of the assertions inside the document remains the signer's responsibility, which is why an affidavit records the deponent's oath rather than the attorney's endorsement of the facts.

Will a notarised Thai document be accepted abroad without further steps?

Sometimes, but you should assume not. Many receiving authorities want the notarial signature itself verified, which means certification by the Department of Consular Affairs and then legalisation by that country's embassy in Bangkok. Until Thailand's accession to the Apostille Convention enters into force on 28 February 2027 there is no shorter route, so we confirm the destination's requirement in writing before the appointment closes.

Thailand has no notary public — who certifies signatures instead?

A Notarial Services Attorney, a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage and separately registered to perform notarial acts, does this work. The attorney certifies signatures, certifies copies as true to the original, and administers affidavits and declarations. Their registration number appears on the certificate, which is what a foreign recipient checks.

Is a notarial certificate from Thailand enough on its own for use abroad?

Often not — many foreign authorities want the attorney's signature authenticated afterwards through consular legalization and, where required, the destination embassy. Whether that extra chain is needed depends entirely on the receiving institution: banks and universities frequently accept the notarial certificate alone, while courts and land registries usually do not. Ask the recipient in writing which level they require before you start, because the additional steps add days.

Do I have to appear in person for a signature certification?

Yes for signature certification — the whole point of the act is that the attorney witnesses the signature and verifies your identity, so it cannot be done from a scan. Copy certification is different: you present the original for inspection, and the copy is certified against it. Bring the identity document named in the document itself, since a mismatch between the ID used and the ID cited will invalidate the certificate.

What can go wrong with a power of attorney signed in Thailand for use overseas?

The most common failures are scope and form: an authority clause too narrow for what the agent must actually do, a missing witness where the destination law requires one, or a document that omits the property or account it concerns. Fixing this after the fact means signing again, which is expensive if you have left the country. Have the destination-country professional supply or approve the draft text before the signing appointment.

Can a notarial act be performed in a language other than Thai?

Yes — documents in English and other languages are routinely certified, and the certificate itself is normally issued in English for overseas use. Where the document will also be filed with a Thai office, a Thai translation is added so both recipients can read it. If the signer does not understand the language of the document, an interpreter should be present and recorded, because a signer who cannot read what they signed is a weakness the receiving side can attack.

Who can perform notarial certification in Thailand?

A lawyer registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as a Notarial Services Attorney, because Thailand has no separate civil-law notary profession. The registration is what foreign recipients check, so the certificate names the attorney and their registration. If a foreign form insists on a "notary public", the Notarial Services Attorney certification is the Thai equivalent and is normally accepted with that explanation attached.

Do I have to sign in front of the attorney?

Yes for signature certification — the whole point of the certificate is that the attorney witnessed the signing and verified identity. Copy certification and translation certification do not require you to sign, only to present the original. Remote video signing is not a substitute under current Thai practice.

What identification should I bring to a notarial appointment?

A valid passport for foreign nationals, or Thai ID card and house registration for Thai nationals, plus the original of every document being certified. Corporate work adds the company affidavit and evidence that the signer is authorised to bind the company. Expired identification cannot be used even when the person is well known to the office.

Can a notarial certificate be issued in English?

Yes, certificates are routinely issued in English for overseas use, and bilingual wording is available where a Thai authority also needs to read it. Where the destination has a prescribed certificate wording, supply that form in advance so the attorney can follow it. Rewriting the certificate afterwards means signing again.

Is notarial certification enough for use abroad, or is more needed?

For many commercial and university purposes the certificate alone is accepted, but government filings often add consular legalization and embassy attestation on top. The safest sequence is to confirm the destination's requirement first, then complete notarial certification, then the certification chain in one continuous run. Doing it in that order avoids repeating appointments.

Who can perform notarial acts in Thailand?

Only a lawyer registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as a Notarial Services Attorney may certify signatures and copies for international use. Thailand has no separate notary-public profession, so a document stamped by anyone other than a registered notarial-services attorney will not be accepted by the Department of Consular Affairs. Ask for the attorney's registration number if you need to verify it.

Must I sign the document in front of the attorney?

Yes for a signature certification — the whole point of the act is that the attorney witnessed the signing and verified the signer's identity against a passport or ID card. Copy certification is different: the attorney compares the copy against the original and the signer's presence is not the issue. Signing in advance and bringing the page in is the most common reason a notarial appointment has to be repeated.

Can a notarial certification be done for a company rather than an individual?

Yes — the authorised director signs and the attorney certifies both the signature and the director's authority, supported by a current company affidavit and the company seal where used. Bank account openings, overseas subsidiary registrations and IP filings almost always require this combination. The affidavit should be recent, since registries commonly reject one older than three to six months.

Is notarisation alone enough for a document to be used abroad?

Usually not — most receiving countries want the notarial signature itself certified by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by their embassy in Bangkok. Notarisation is the first of three steps, not a complete chain. The exception is a private counterparty, such as a foreign company or bank, that only asks for a witnessed signature.

Can notarial certification be arranged outside Bangkok or outside office hours?

Yes — an attorney can travel to a hospital, a client's office or a provincial location, and appointments outside standard hours can be arranged in advance. This matters for hospitalised signers, elderly clients and corporate signings scheduled around an overseas time zone. Travel arrangements are confirmed by phone or LINE before the date so the signer knows exactly what identification to have ready.

Does Thailand have notaries public in the common-law sense?

No — Thailand has no notary public office; the equivalent function is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. That attorney certifies signatures, copies, dates and declarations, and foreign authorities routinely accept the certification in place of a notarial act. When a receiving body insists on the words 'notary public', we provide the attorney's registration details to satisfy the check.

Must I sign in front of the attorney?

Yes for signature certification — the whole point of the act is that the attorney witnessed the signing and verified your identity from the original passport or ID card. Copy certification is different: the attorney compares a copy against the original and you need not sign at all. Never sign a document in advance if signature certification is the goal.

Can notarisation be done outside the office?

Yes — we attend hospitals, homes, prisons and company offices where a signatory cannot travel, subject to scheduling and a mobility fee. This is common for elderly signatories and for board members signing corporate resolutions on site. The identity check and the original identity document are still required wherever the signing takes place.

Is a notarised document automatically valid abroad?

Not always — many countries additionally require the notarisation to be legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by their embassy in Bangkok. Some receiving bodies, particularly universities and private companies, accept the attorney's certification on its own. Ask the receiving body whether legalisation is needed, because adding it later means a second trip through the chain.

Can a document in a language the attorney does not read be notarised?

Yes, because signature certification attests to the act of signing rather than to the content, but a certified translation is usually attached so the receiving authority and the signatory both understand the text. For declarations and affidavits we recommend a bilingual layout, since a signatory should never attest to wording they cannot read. Copy certification of a foreign-language document is likewise unaffected by language.

Why does notarization in Thailand need legal advice at all?

Because Thailand has no notary public in the common-law sense; the equivalent is a Notarial Services Attorney licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand, and not every foreign requirement can be satisfied by that office. Where a document truly requires a foreign-style notary, the correct route is often the relevant embassy instead. Knowing which of the two applies is the advice that saves the trip.

Notarial Services Attorney versus embassy notarization — which should I choose?

Choose by who receives the document. Documents going to foreign courts, universities and companies are usually fine with a Thai Notarial Services Attorney, especially when followed by MFA and embassy legalization; documents governed by your own national law, such as certain powers of attorney and wills, often must be signed before your embassy. We assess the receiving requirement first and say plainly when the embassy is the only valid route.

What are the hidden costs of a notarization that later fails?

A failed notarization usually costs a second signing appointment, a re-issued original, a repeat legalization chain, and courier both ways — several times the original fee. The common triggers are an expired passport at signing, a signature that differs from the passport, and a document drafted in a form the receiving country does not recognise. All three are avoidable in a ten-minute pre-check.

What must never happen during notarization?

The signer must be physically present with valid photo identification and must not sign the document beforehand — a pre-signed page cannot be witnessed. Blank spaces must be filled or struck through before signing, and the attorney cannot notarize a document they believe to be false. We review the draft in advance so the appointment itself is short and clean.

What do I bring to a notarial services attorney appointment?

The original document to be signed or certified, your passport or Thai ID, and — if you are signing for a company — the affidavit of company registration plus evidence of your authority to sign. Do not sign the document in advance: a signature witnessing is invalid if the notarial services attorney did not see the pen touch the paper. Send us the draft beforehand and we will confirm the exact list for your specific document.

What is the sequence for a notarised document going overseas?

Notarisation is often only the first of three steps. The notarial services attorney certifies the signature or the copy, then the Department of Consular Affairs legalizes it where the destination requires, then the destination country's embassy in Bangkok adds its own stamp if it does not accept the Thai chain alone. Skipping a link is the single most common reason a notarised document is refused abroad, so we confirm the full chain first.

Which errors most often invalidate a notarised document?

Pre-signing, a mismatch between the signatory's name on the ID and in the document body, an expired corporate affidavit, an incomplete document with blanks left to fill later, and requesting a certified copy of a document that the receiving party actually wanted in original. Each of these is caught in a five-minute pre-check, which we run before you travel to the appointment.

Can a notarial services attorney visit our office or a hospital?

Yes. Off-site attendance is routine for board meetings, hospital bedsides where the signatory cannot travel, and closings where several signatories must sign in one sitting. It needs scheduling in advance and the document set must be final on the day. Tell us the location, the number of signatories and the deadline, and we will confirm availability and the paperwork each signatory must bring.

Is a Thai Notarial Services Attorney the same as a notary public abroad?

Functionally similar, structurally different. Thailand has no notary public office; instead the Lawyers Council of Thailand registers qualified lawyers as Notarial Services Attorneys who certify signatures, copies and affidavits. Most foreign receiving parties accept this as the Thai equivalent, and many then ask for MFA legalization and embassy legalization on top. Where a counterparty's instructions literally say notary public, we provide the attorney's registration details so the receiving party can verify the capacity.

The signer is overseas — can notarisation still be done in Thailand?

No. A Notarial Services Attorney certifies a signature that is made in the attorney's presence, so the signer must attend in person in Thailand. If the signer cannot travel, the usual alternative is notarisation in the country where they are, followed by legalization for use in Thailand. Planning this early matters, because the overseas route adds courier time and sometimes an apostille or consular step. Tell us where each signer will physically be and we will map the shortest valid chain.

What should I check before a notarisation appointment?

Confirm four things: the exact wording the receiving party requires (they often supply a template that must not be altered), the identity document the signer will bring and that it is unexpired, whether the document must be signed in English or bilingually, and whether the receiving party also needs MFA and embassy legalization afterwards. Bringing a draft that the counterparty has already approved prevents the most common outcome — a correctly notarised document with wording the counterparty then refuses.

What must I bring to a Notarial Services Attorney appointment?

Bring the unsigned document, your passport or Thai ID in original, and any supporting evidence the receiving party asked for such as a company affidavit for corporate signatures. Do not sign in advance: the attorney must witness the signature for the notarial certificate to be valid. If the signer cannot attend, discuss the alternatives with us before the appointment rather than on the day.

What is the right sequence when a notarised document goes abroad?

Sign before the Notarial Services Attorney, then have the notarisation legalized by the Department of Consular Affairs, then submit to the destination embassy if that country requires it. Some receiving parties accept the notarisation alone, so confirm the requirement before paying for the later steps. Reversing the order is not possible because each authority certifies the signature of the one before it.

Why do notarised documents get refused overseas?

Most refusals come from a document signed before the appointment, a signer whose identification has expired, a corporate signer who cannot show authority to bind the company, and text in a language the notarising attorney cannot verify without a certified translation. Each is checked at intake in our process. If the receiving party gave you a template, send it to us first so we can confirm the wording is acceptable before the appointment.