Fees & Terms of Business

My minimum fee for a basic matter is £70. My hourly rate is £200. I reserve the right to vary the rate, particularly in respect of extremely urgent and/or complex or unusual matters or those that require particular expertise.

I am currently not VAT registered.

Your personal attendance at my office is preferable where my own photocopying and facilities are available as required. Arrangements can be made for me to attend your home or place of business. In cases justifying attendance at your own address – e.g. in the event of incapacitation, special arrangements can be made but this inevitably increases time and expense.

Every effort will be made to provide you with a quotation for the total cost of undertaking the work on your behalf. Except in the most routine cases, it may be difficult to estimate how many hours of work will be required to complete a matter, bearing in mind the variety of circumstances that may arise. However, guidance as to likely costs will be given, where possible, on request. Any estimates given will be based on the information available to me at the time and, although given in good faith, will not be binding. Variations in the instructions given, additional attendees at appointment and requests for additional work or unexpected developments and/or inexperience, incompetence or lack of co-operation on the part of other parties or their advisers may increase costs.

this applies to all work undertaken from start to finish including preliminary details and advice, preparation, attendances, drafting, phone calls, correspondence, fax, legalisation and terminal work including the Notarial Register and Protocol.

Additionally the client is responsible for all payments I make on your behalf. Typical examples are Legalisation fees payable to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and/or Embassies, translators’/interpreters’ fees; Agents; couriers’ and/or special postage charges. However I shall not incur these without first obtaining your consent to do so.

My charges are normally payable upon release of the notarised documentation, although subsequent work may remain to complete the matter. I accept payment by cash, card or immediate BACS transfer. 4.1 If you have negotiated a regular invoice account with me, I will issue my invoice to you with the completed documentation, for payment within fourteen days. 4.2 Any queries concerning an invoice should be raised immediately upon receipt. 4.3 In the event of payment not being made as requested, I reserve the right to decline to act any further on your behalf and/or to exercise a lien on any papers or documents which are in my possession, until payment has been made.

I must be satisfied as to your identity, your address, your legal capacity, your authority and your understanding and approval. In many instances I may insist on a translation. I shall try to ensure that the document, in the manner of its execution, its form and substance will achieve its purpose. I must be satisfied that it is your voluntary act and that no fraud, violence or duress are involved and that other stipulated formalities either under English or Foreign law are observed. If I am not satisfied about any one of those things I can refuse to undertake the matter.

I do not advise on foreign law but act in an evidential, authentication capacity.