UK Apostille & Solicitor Certification
Our in-house solicitor is ready to Certify and Apostille your document!
Ace Apostille makes the process simple: We check your document, advise whether solicitor certification is required, arrange solicitor certification where appropriate, and submit your document for an official UK Hague Apostille.
Solicitor certification is charged from £20.00 per document
What Is Apostille & Solicitor Certification?
Apostille and solicitor certification are two different stages that may be needed when a UK document is being used overseas.
A Hague Apostille is the official certificate attached by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office. It confirms that the signature, stamp or seal on a UK document is genuine. The Legalisation Office checks the document against its records before attaching an apostille.
Solicitor certification is when a UK solicitor certifies a document before the apostille stage. The solicitor may certify that a copy is a true copy, confirm that a document was signed in their presence, or add suitable wording so the document can be submitted for legalisation.
In simple terms:
- The solicitor certifies the document where required.
- The FCDO Legalisation Office issues the apostille.
- Ace Apostille can help arrange both steps.
Apostille & Solicitor Certification Prices
Paper-based express next-day Apostille:
Apostille starts from just £79.00
Simple Solicitor Certification:
£20.00 extra per document
This applies to simple solicitor certification, such as certifying a true copy or preparing a straightforward document for apostille where solicitor certification is suitable.
University Award Verification:
£50.00 per document
This applies where a university document requires award verification directly with the university before certification and apostille.
Notary Public or Complex Legal Documents:
Notary public work, complex legal documents, embassy legalisation and certified translation may be quoted separately depending on the document and destination country.
How to Order Apostille & Solicitor Certification with Ace Apostille
Step 1: Start Your Apostille Order Online
Go to the Ace Apostille online order page and select your document type.
Step 2: Add Solicitor Certification if Required
If your document needs certification, select the solicitor certification service when placing your order.
A simple solicitor certification is £20.00 extra per document.
Step 3: Tell Us the Document Type and Destination Country
The document requirements can depend on where the document will be used. We recommend checking whether the receiving authority needs original documents or certified copies, and whether the document must be signed by a particular official such as a solicitor or notary public.
Step 4: Send Your Document to Ace Apostille
After placing your order, follow the instructions to send your document to Ace Apostille.
Step 5: Receive Your Apostilled & Certified Document
Once completed, your apostilled document will be returned using your selected delivery option.
Start your Apostille order here:
Solicitor Certification vs Notary Public: What Is the Difference?
Solicitor certification and notarisation are not the same.
A Solicitor can certify copies, witness signatures and certify certain documents where solicitor certification is accepted by the receiving authority. Not all countries will accept a solicitor certification.
A Notary Public is often required for more formal international matters, such as overseas property transactions, foreign court documents, some powers of attorney, affidavits, statutory declarations and documents where the receiving authority specifically asks for notarisation.
If your overseas authority says “solicitor certified”, solicitor certification may be suitable.
If it says “notarised”, “notarial act” or “notary public”, you may need a notary instead.
Ace Apostille can review the wording you have been given and advise which route is likely to be appropriate.
Can a Solicitor Issue an Apostille?
No. A solicitor cannot issue an apostille.
Only the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office can issue a UK apostille. A solicitor may certify a document before it is submitted, but the apostille itself is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office.
Ace Apostille is a officially registered provider for the FCDO Next-Day Apostille service. Ace Apostille handles the process for you by checking the document, arranging solicitor certification where needed, submitting the document for apostille, and returning the completed document to you.
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Why Choose Ace Apostille?
Choosing the wrong route can lead to delays, rejected documents and extra costs. Ace Apostille helps you avoid that by checking your document before submission.
With Ace Apostille, you benefit from:
- Fast online apostille ordering
- Free document review
- Free PDF Scanned copy via email in 2 hours
- Solicitor certification add-on where needed
- University award verification where required
- FCDO apostille submission handled for you
- Clear pricing
- UK-based customer support
- Tracked return delivery options
Solicitor Certification FAQs
Do I need solicitor certification before apostille?
Sometimes. You may need solicitor certification before apostille if your document is a copy, private document, academic certificate, passport copy, driving licence copy, contract, power of attorney, affidavit, statutory declaration, company document or another document without a recognised UK public signature, stamp or seal.
You may not need solicitor certification if your document is already an original UK public document, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, sealed court document or government-issued document signed by an official.
Ace Apostille can check your document and confirm the correct route before submission.
Which documents need solicitor certification before apostille?
Documents that commonly need solicitor certification before apostille include passport copies, driving licence copies, degree certificates, academic transcripts, diplomas, bank statements, utility bills, private contracts, powers of attorney, affidavits, statutory declarations, company documents, employment letters, medical letters and certified copies.
The exact requirement depends on the document, the destination country and the receiving authority. Some documents can go directly to apostille, while others need solicitor certification or notarisation first.
Which documents can go straight to apostille without solicitor certification?
Original UK public documents can often go straight to apostille without solicitor certification. These may include UK birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, civil partnership certificates, adoption certificates, sealed court documents, court orders with a wet ink seal, Companies House certificates and government department letters signed by an official.
A document is more likely to need solicitor certification if it is a copy, scan, printout, private document or unsigned document.
Can a solicitor certify a passport copy for apostille?
Yes. A solicitor can usually certify a passport copy as a true copy of the original passport seen. The certified copy can then be submitted for apostille if the overseas authority accepts an apostilled certified copy.
This is a common requirement for overseas banking, residency, company registration, property transactions, immigration procedures and identity checks. Ace Apostille can arrange simple solicitor certification for passport copies.
Can I apostille a photocopy?
A photocopy can sometimes be apostilled, but it usually needs to be certified first by a solicitor or notary public. A plain photocopy normally has no official signature or seal for the FCDO to verify.
Common photocopies that may need solicitor certification include passport copies, driving licence copies, degree certificates, academic transcripts, bank statements, utility bills and company documents. Some official documents, such as birth certificates, are only apostilled as official originals or replacement certificates.
Does a degree certificate need solicitor certification before apostille?
Many UK degree certificates and transcripts need solicitor certification before apostille, especially if the receiving authority asks for a certified copy or requires confirmation that the award is genuine.
Some academic documents also require award verification and HEDD checks directly with the university before certification. Ace Apostille charges £50.00 per document where university award verification is required.
Is solicitor certification the same as notarisation?
No. Solicitor certification and notarisation are different. A solicitor can certify copies and certain documents where solicitor certification is accepted. A notary public is often required for formal international legal documents, overseas property matters, foreign court documents, certain powers of attorney and documents where the receiving authority specifically asks for notarisation.
If your instructions say “notarised”, do not assume solicitor certification will be accepted.
How do I add solicitor certification to my apostille order?
Start your order on the Ace Apostille online order page, select your document type, and add the solicitor certification service if your document needs it.
If you are unsure whether certification is required, send Ace Apostille your document type, destination country and any instructions from the receiving authority. We can advise whether you need direct apostille, solicitor certification, university verification, notarisation or another legalisation route.
Does solicitor certification guarantee that my document will be accepted abroad?
No service can guarantee acceptance by every overseas authority because the final decision belongs to the organisation, embassy, court, university, employer or government department receiving the document.
However, using the correct certification route greatly reduces the risk of rejection. Ace Apostille checks your document and helps you choose the right process before it is submitted for apostille.
Can a UK apostille be used for documents issued outside the UK?
No. The UK apostille service is for UK-issued documents. The UK Government clearly states that documents issued outside the UK cannot be legalised using the UK service and should be legalised in the country where they were issued.
If your document was issued outside the UK, contact the relevant authority in the issuing country.
Start now: Order Your Apostille Online
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