Terms of Business – Notarial Practice Rules 2019
We act only on the basis of these Terms of Business.
Daniel Clarke is a Notary Public operating through Fatchett & Co Notaries Ltd.
We charge fees based on the time taken for the whole matter (including making the
appointment, travelling or waiting time and the time needed to prepare the official records) at
the rate of £350.00 per hour. Generally speaking, it is unlikely that the fee for any transaction
will be less than £120.00. In the majority of matters, we agree a fixed quote for work, to allow
you to budget. If we issue a fixed quote, this overrides our hourly rates.
Normal Timescales
Timescales very much depend on what we are instructed to do. As part of our quote
process, we will inform you of the likely timescale of each set of the service to be provided.
Missed Appointment Charge
Our practice works on the basis of booked appointments. If we book you in, then the time
slot we give to you is blocked out. This means that if you miss your appointment without
giving us 24 hours notice, we cannot offer the appointment time to another person. In these
circumstances, we charge a missed appointment charge of £100.00. You need to cancel at
least 24 hours before your appointment, by either calling us, texting us or emailing us
(daniel@clarkenotary.co.uk).
VAT & Disbursements
Our practice is registered for VAT and this will be charged on notarial services. In addition,
third party expenses and fees will be charged, such as charges of the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, Foreign Embassies and Consulates, any agents dealing with the
legislation of documents and special postage and courier charges. Our charges are payable
on presentation of an invoice which is usually at the time of our meeting or when our
services have been provided. Documents may not be released until the invoice has been
paid.
The Role of your Notary
Part of the Notary’s role is to check the facts in the documents they notarise and this
sometimes involves obtaining evidence or proof from sources independent of the signatory.
With regard to this we will need your full co-operation if it is necessary to add qualifications
to our Notarial certificate to make it clear that there are facts which we have not been able to
verify, the document may be of less benefit and no liability is accepted if this is the case. Our
practice is insured through a reputable insurance company, details of which are available
upon request.
In some circumstances, we may consider that we should decline or cease to act. For
example, if we do not receive clear or proper instructions or if the matter on which we are
instructed involves fraud or violence, or if our charges are not paid.
Storage
We store without charge copies of all notarial acts for as long as required by the rules. We
do not always keep a full copy of your documents or identification materials but reserve the
right to do so.
Except so far as excluded by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, our liability for any loss,
injury or damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or consequential, including
(without limitation) in respect of negligence or breach of duty of care is limited to
£1,000,000.00 in respect of any one claim or series of related claims.
Regulation
Daniel Clarke operating through Fatchett & Co Notaries Ltd is regulated through the Faculty
Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Complaints
If you are dissatisfied about the service you have received please do not hesitate to contact
us. If we are unable to resolve the matter you may then complain to the Notaries Society of
which Daniel Clarke is a member, who have a Complaints Procedure which is approved by
the Faculty Office. This procedure is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution
to any dispute. In that case please write (but do not enclose any original documents) with full
details of your complaint to:
The Secretary of The Notaries Society
P O Box 1023
Ipswich
IP1 9XB
Email: secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk
If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing please do not hesitate to contact
the Notaries Society/the Faculty Office for assistance. Finally, even if you have your
complaint considered under The Notaries Society Approved Complaints Procedure, you may
at the end of that procedure, or after a period of eight weeks from the date you first notified
us that you were dissatisfied, make your complaint direct to The Legal Ombudsman, if you
are not happy with the result. The Legal Ombudsman can be contacted at:
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Telephone 0300 555 0333
Or visit their website https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/
If you decide to make a complaint to The Legal Ombudsman you must refer your matter to
them within one year from the act/omission or within one year from when you should
reasonably have known there was a cause for complaint.
Daniel Clarke Notary Public
January 8th., 2026