Bridge Law Solicitors launches in-house Notary Public practice

Greater Manchester-based law firm, Bridge Law Solicitors has introduced a new Notary Public service which will be available at both the firm’s head office in Marple Bridge and their offices in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. 

The new Notary service will be operated by Bridge Law’s Founder and Director, Claire Stewart. Claire completed the qualification and took the Crown oath earlier this year to join a select number of highly specialist lawyers practising as Notaries Public in England and Wales. This is one of the oldest branches of the legal profession in the UK. Notaries are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury under an Act of Parliament from the reign of Henry VIII.  

Commenting on the launch of the new notarial service, Claire Stewart shared: “I am delighted to be able to offer a Notary service through Bridge Law, alongside my role as Director and Solicitor at the firm. 

“As more and more clients were contacting the firm enquiring if we offered Notary services in recent years, it was something I was keen to be able to help clients with and I’m honoured to now be admitted to the Office of Notary Public, a commission which expires at death.

“Although it’s not necessarily common knowledge what a notary does, as most people will only come across them when they find themselves in need of assistance from a notary, the demand for notary services has always been apparent and has only been increasing since lockdown. The growing number of people choosing to live, work, do business, marry or travel overseas, for example, with their grandchildren or partner’s children, will usually find foreign jurisdictions require documents and deeds to be witnessed, certified or authenticated by a Notary Public.”

This further expansion to Bridge Law’s services follows steady growth at the boutique law firm over the last year – which has seen the appointment of specialist Family Law Solicitor, Jill Walker who has over 20 years of experience. Paralegals, Helena Boullerier and Jake Croke also joined the team in 2023, to support the firm’s specialist lawyers.