Most people encounter a notary public once or twice in their lives — when emigrating, buying property abroad, or dealing with an international business transaction. But what does a notary actually do all day? The answer might surprise you. A typical day for a Cork notary public involves a remarkable variety of clients, documents, and legal situations, each with its own requirements and complexities.
Morning: The First Appointments
8:30 AM — Preparation
The day begins with reviewing the appointment schedule and preparing for each client. This means checking documents that clients have emailed in advance, researching specific requirements for destination countries, and ensuring the correct forms and certificates are ready. Preparation is key to efficient appointments.
9:00 AM — Passport Copies for Australian Visa
The first appointment is a young couple from Cork who are applying for Australian working holiday visas. They need notarised copies of their passports, educational qualifications, and police clearance certificates. The notary examines each original document, creates certified copies, attaches the notarial certificate with seal and signature, and advises on the apostille process. Twenty minutes, and they are on their way.
9:30 AM — Power of Attorney for Spanish Property
A retired couple are buying a holiday home in Spain. The Spanish notario has sent specific wording for a Poder (Power of Attorney) authorising their Spanish lawyer to sign the purchase deed on their behalf. The notary reviews the PoA with the clients, ensures they understand the powers being granted, witnesses their signatures, and applies the notarial seal. This document will need apostille and then translation into Spanish.
Mid-Morning: The Unexpected
10:15 AM — Urgent Corporate Document
A Cork-based tech company needs a board resolution notarised urgently for a transaction closing in Singapore that afternoon. The company secretary arrives with the resolution, board minutes, and certificate of incorporation. The notary verifies the company's details, confirms the signatory's authority, notarises the resolution, and arranges for the apostille to be expedited.
11:00 AM — Statutory Declaration
A client needs a statutory declaration for a citizenship application. The declaration covers their residency history in Ireland, their good character, and their intention to reside in the state. The notary administers the oath, witnesses the signature, and provides the notarial certificate.
Lunchtime: Research and Administration
Between appointments, there is research to do: checking the current requirements for a document going to Brazil, confirming the UAE Embassy's attestation hours, and responding to email enquiries about fees and document requirements. The notary's protocol (record book) needs to be updated with details of the morning's notarial acts — a legal requirement that creates a permanent record of every notarisation performed.
Afternoon: More Variety
2:00 PM — Student Documents
An international student at UCC needs notarised copies of their degree for a job application. They also need a statutory declaration for their immigration registration. The notary handles both matters in a single appointment, saving the student time and money.
2:30 PM — Translation Certification
A professional translator brings in a translation of a Polish marriage certificate that needs notarisation. The translator makes a declaration that the translation is accurate and complete, and the notary witnesses this declaration and attaches the notarial certificate to the translation.
3:00 PM — Enduring Power of Attorney
Perhaps the most sensitive appointment of the day: an elderly client, accompanied by a family member, is executing an Enduring Power of Attorney. The notary takes particular care to ensure the client understands the document, is acting voluntarily, and has the capacity to grant the powers. This appointment takes longer — 45 minutes to an hour — and requires careful assessment and thorough explanation.
Late Afternoon: Wrapping Up
4:00 PM — Phone Consultations
The end of the day often involves phone consultations with clients planning future appointments — discussing what documents they need, what to bring, and how long the process will take. These conversations save time during the appointment itself and ensure clients arrive prepared.
4:30 PM — Professional Development
The law changes, international requirements evolve, and new jurisdictions join the Hague Convention. Staying current is part of the notary's professional obligation — reading updates from the Faculty of Notaries Public, reviewing changes to foreign embassy requirements, and attending continuing professional development events.
The Common Thread
What connects all of these diverse appointments is the notary's fundamental role: acting as an independent, qualified witness whose authentication is trusted both domestically and internationally. Every stamp of the seal, every signature on a notarial certificate, carries the weight of the notary's professional reputation and the authority granted by the Chief Justice of Ireland.
Contact Hugh Phelan
Hugh Phelan, Solicitor and Notary Public, handles all of these types of work and more from his office in Douglas, Cork. Whatever your notarisation need, Hugh provides professional, efficient service.
Contact us at 021-489-7134 or info@phelansolicitors.com, or book an appointment online.
Need a Notary Public in Cork?
Hugh Phelan is a Solicitor & Notary Public appointed by the Chief Justice of Ireland.
Book an Appointment📞 +353-21-489-7134 · East Douglas Street, Douglas, Cork