Notary Public Services in Johannesburg
Need a document notarised, a signature witnessed or a notarial deed prepared? Hugh Raichlin Attorneys provides notarial services through Abigail Sher, an attorney, notary and conveyancer, from our Norwood office. We assist individuals and businesses with local instructions and documents intended for use abroad. Start by telling us what the document is, who requires it and where it will be used.
Start with what the document is for and who requires it. We will clarify the notarial work and appointment requirements.
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Notarial services through Abigail Sher, an attorney, notary and conveyancer.
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps us understand whether the firm can assist. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. We aim to respond within one working day after receiving your enquiry.
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Notarial services through Abigail Sher, an attorney, notary and conveyancer.
This page is for you if…
- You have been asked to provide a notarised copy, witnessed signature, declaration or notarial certificate.
- A document will be used abroad and you need to understand the notarisation, apostille or authentication steps.
- You need a power of attorney or a notarial deed prepared, signed or registered where applicable.
- You are arranging an antenuptial contract or a notarial property or commercial instrument.
- You are unsure what the receiving institution means by “certified”, “notarised” or “legalised”.
How Hugh Raichlin Attorneys can help
Abigail provides a full range of notarial services. The starting point is the document's purpose and the receiving authority's requirements, rather than applying the same certification process to every instruction.
Notarised copies, signatures and declarations
We assess requests for notarised copies, signature witnessing, affidavits, declarations and notarial certificates. Bring the receiving institution's instructions so that the required form and supporting documents can be checked. Not every request for a certified copy requires the same notarial process.
Documents intended for use abroad
We can assess the notarial work and identify the further authentication or apostille steps relevant to your documents. Tell us the destination country and receiving institution. Before instructing us, confirm which preparation, submission, collection and third-party steps HRA will undertake and which are separate.
Powers of attorney and signing authority
We assist with powers of attorney and the notarial requirements associated with signing on another person's or an entity's behalf. The intended authority, use and receiving institution matter. Drafting a power of attorney and notarising an existing document are different instructions; explain which you need.
Notarial deeds and agreements
Our notarial offering includes antenuptial contracts, notarial bonds, servitudes, notarial leases, deeds of donation and other notarial instruments. Abigail assesses the drafting, signing, supporting consents and registration work appropriate to the instruction. Existing HRA marriage-contract and property services provide more detailed guidance where relevant.
Notarisation, an apostille and legalisation are different steps
Notarisation is not the same as an apostille or a completed legalisation process. The appropriate route depends on the document, its origin, the destination country and the receiving authority's requirements. An apostille is issued by a designated competent authority; HRA does not issue a government's apostille certificate.
Certain original South African public documents follow DIRCO's route, while notarial documents may require the relevant High Court route. Do not assume that a notarised copy is a substitute for an original document or official verification. Translation, where required, is a separate service and may need a sworn translator.
We explain the scope HRA can undertake before proceeding. Official processing and the receiving institution's substantive requirements remain outside the firm's control.
Which notarial instruction do you need?
| Your requirement | Information to have ready | What needs to be clarified |
|---|---|---|
| Notarised copy or signature | The original document, identity document and recipient's instructions | Whether the request concerns a copy, signature, declaration or particular certificate |
| Document for use abroad | Destination country, receiving institution and its written requirements | The correct notarial, apostille/authentication and any translation route |
| Power of attorney | The proposed authority, intended use and any prescribed wording | Whether drafting, advice, signature witnessing or further certification is required |
| Antenuptial contract | Wedding date, proposed marital regime and any unusual provisions | The advice, execution and registration steps for the marriage contract |
| Notarial bond, servitude or other deed | Draft terms, parties, property or asset details and existing documents | Required authority, consents, drafting and registration work |
These are starting points for an assessment, not an exhaustive document list or a guarantee that a particular institution will accept the result.
Notarial fees and scope
Notarial fees depend on the document, the work required, the number of documents and any further registration or authentication steps. Contact us for the applicable fee and scope before arranging the work. Ask which third-party costs are separate and whether additional legal advice is required. Antenuptial contracts and powers of attorney have their own service arrangements; do not assume one document fee covers every notarial instruction.
Arranging notarial work
- 1
Confirm requirements
Tell us the document type, intended use, receiving institution and any deadline so the correct notarial route can be identified.
- 2
Agree scope and appointment
We confirm the proposed scope, appointment arrangements and fees, including any separate third-party steps.
- 3
Complete work and follow-up
The agreed notarial work is completed and any further registration, authentication or delivery steps are addressed within the confirmed scope.
The route depends on the document, its origin and the receiving authority's requirements.
What happens next
- 1Tell us the document type, intended use, receiving institution and any deadline. A brief description is enough for the first enquiry.
- 2We confirm the proposed scope, appointment arrangements and fees, including any separate third-party steps.
- 3Bring or provide the originals, identification and authority documents requested for your instruction. Where signing must be witnessed, wait for the appointment instructions before signing.
- 4The agreed notarial work is completed and any further registration, authentication or delivery steps are addressed within the confirmed scope.
What to prepare
You do not need to upload a complete document pack with your first enquiry. Have the following available and wait for the firm to confirm which documents are required and how to provide them securely.
- The document concerned, including any prescribed wording or template supplied by its recipient.
- The recipient's written certification or legalisation requirements.
- The country in which the document was issued and where it will be used.
- Original identification and the original documents relevant to the instruction.
- Details of everyone required to sign and any company, trustee or other authority to act.
- Your required date and any related transaction, travel or submission deadline.
Avoid unnecessary repeat visits
Do not sign in advance where a signature must be witnessed, assume a scan will meet an original-document requirement, or book travel around an unconfirmed completion date. A notarial certificate does not replace advice on the underlying transaction, and third-party requirements should be checked before the work starts.
Notarial work handled by Abigail Sher
Abigail Sher is an attorney, notary and conveyancer at Hugh Raichlin Attorneys. Her practice includes notarial work, antenuptial contracts and residential and commercial conveyancing. She is the relevant practitioner for the notarial services described here.
Abigail Sher
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
LLB · University of South Africa
Abigail Sher is an attorney, notary and conveyancer at HRA. She assists with residential and commercial property transfers, notarial work, antenuptial contracts and deceased estates.
View Abigail's profileNotarial appointments at our Norwood office
Appointments are arranged through our office at 1 The Avenue, Norwood, Johannesburg. We welcome enquiries from Rosebank, Sandton, Bedfordview and surrounding areas. Tell us where the document will be used; the client's home suburb does not determine the document's formal requirements. Please contact the firm before travelling to confirm what to bring and who must attend.
Attorneys respond during office hours and ordinarily follow up within one working day after receipt. Our 24/7 AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry service can capture your enquiry at any time; it does not provide legal advice. The initial telephone discussion is free; a paid consultation is arranged where appropriate.
Hugh Raichlin Attorneys
1 The Avenue, Norwood, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2192, South Africa
Monday–Friday 08:30–17:00, Africa/Johannesburg
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a notary or will an ordinary certified copy be enough?
That depends on what the receiving institution requires. Ask it for the exact wording and bring those instructions to HRA. We can then identify whether the instruction calls for notarisation, a witnessed signature, another form of certification or a further authentication step.
Can HRA assist with documents that will be used abroad?
Yes. Abigail can assess the notarial work and the applicable authentication or apostille route. The scope of any submission, collection, translation or consular step must be agreed separately. Notarisation alone should not be assumed to complete every overseas requirement.
Does a notary issue the apostille?
No. An apostille is issued by a designated competent authority. HRA can advise on the notarial preparation and the appropriate next steps for the particular document. The relevant authority and route depend on the document and destination.
Must I attend in person, and may I sign beforehand?
Tell us who needs to sign and what the recipient requires. We will confirm attendance and identification requirements. Where a signature must be witnessed, do not sign beforehand unless the notary has expressly confirmed how the instruction will be handled.
Can a business or trust instruct Abigail?
Yes. Explain the transaction or document and who proposes to act for the entity. We will confirm what resolutions, powers or other evidence of authority are needed before the instruction proceeds.
What will the service cost and how long will it take?
The fee and timing depend on the agreed scope and any external steps. Ask for confirmation before booking. There is no general same-day guarantee, and official or recipient processing times are not controlled by HRA.
Related services
Useful sources
- DIRCO legalisation servicesDocument-type-specific legalisation and authentication routes; notarial work is not government apostille issuance.
- HCCH — South African designated competent authoritiesSouth African designated competent authorities for the issue of apostilles under the Apostille Convention.
- Security in Movable Property ActNotarial security over specified movable property; no priority or insolvency guarantee is implied.
Discuss your notarial requirements
Tell us what you need notarised or prepared, where it will be used and any deadline. HRA will confirm the information required and the next step for arranging an appointment with Abigail.
What happens next?
Start with a brief telephone discussion so the firm can understand your matter and decide whether it may assist. That initial discussion is free. Where appropriate, a paid consultation is arranged, usually in person; remote arrangements may be considered.
You can begin through our AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry service at any time. It gathers initial information and does not provide legal advice. Where the firm may be able to assist, an attorney ordinarily follows up within one working day after receipt. A message does not confirm an appointment, acceptance of a matter or action on a deadline.
Speak to Hugh Raichlin Attorneys
Visit us by arrangement at 1 The Avenue, Norwood, Johannesburg 2192. Call 011 483 1527 for new enquiries and existing matters, Monday–Friday, 08:30–17:00. For 24/7 AI-assisted enquiry intake, WhatsApp 011 010 8336. You can also email reception@raichlin.co.za.
Please send sensitive documents only when requested through an appropriate channel.