Recent Notary Public Qualification

Article date: 14.04.09

The Notarial Profession is an historic branch of the modern legal profession with its origins in the Roman Empire. It is a small and exclusive profession with fewer than 1000 practising members in England and Wales. This compares to tens of thousands of solicitors currently practising in England and Wales. There are only a small number of practising Notary Publics in Bournemouth.

A Notary Public predominately deals with the authentication and execution of documents for use abroad. The public demand for the services of a Notary Public continues to grow as more and more individuals look to marry abroad, accept employment opportunities abroad and buy property in other countries. Companies also regularly require the services of a Notary Public as they look to expand their business activities to other countries.

The Seal and Signature of a Notary Public is recognised not only by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, various High Commissions and Embassies in the England but throughout the world regardless of the legal systems adopted in various countries.

Both of the firm's founders, Mr Gerald Ashburner Mooring Aldridge and Mr Alistair Brownlee, were practising Notary Publics as was Mr Stephen Perry who joined the firm after World War II. Mr Richard Whitham, a former Senior Partner who served his whole 40-year legal career with the firm, continues the notarial tradition of the firm to the current day. Mr Whitham retired in 2008 as a Partner and solicitor but still practises as a Notary Public and holds a regular 'Notarial Surgery' from the firm's Winton office.
 
The firm are delighted to announce that our tradition of having a practising Notary Public will continue with the recent qualification of Mr Julian Alahakoon.
 
Julian graduated with an Honours law degree from King’s College London before successfully completing the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in London. He moved down to Bournemouth in August 2005 to train with the firm as a solicitor. Julian qualified in July 2007 and now specialises from the firm's Winton office in the areas of Commercial Property and Business Sales and Purchases.
 
Julian has completed a two-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice at Cambridge University. His appointment as a Notary Public has subsequently been approved by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and he is now a practising Notary Public.
 
For more information on Notarial Services please contact Julian Alahakoon at the firm's Winton office on 01202 526343 or by emailing julian.alahakoon@aldridge-brownlee.co.uk