Appearance
The Session
A notarisation session is a live video call with the person who invited you, the notary public, and any other witnesses. Most last between fifteen and forty-five minutes.
Before the day
You need three things:
| A device with a camera and microphone | A phone is fine. A laptop is more comfortable. |
| A stable connection | Video is required throughout — it cannot be an audio-only call |
| Your ID to hand | The notary may ask to see the document you verified with |
Somewhere quiet and reasonably well lit makes the whole thing faster. The notary has to be able to see and hear you clearly, and a session held in a noisy place can end up being restarted.
Video and audio are required
This is a legal act being recorded, not a normal video call. You cannot take part with your camera off, and a session cannot proceed if the notary cannot see you.
Getting your join link
Your verification link is not the session link. They are different, and the session link arrives separately.
Shortly before or at the start of the session, the notary admits you and you receive a second email with your join link. Look out for it around the scheduled time.
The join link works once
It opens the video room a single time, so do not forward it. If you get disconnected and cannot get back in, ask the notary to send a new one — they can do that from inside the session.
During the session
Roughly in this order:
- You join the video room and wait to be brought in.
- The notary confirms who everyone is — they may ask you to hold your ID up to the camera and to state your name.
- The document is reviewed and signed by the person you are witnessing.
- You sign as a witness — a typed signature, or a handwritten one drawn on your phone.
- The notary seals the document and closes the session.
Your presence and your signature are recorded in the session's audit trail alongside everything else that happened.
What you are attesting
That you saw this person sign this document on this date. Nothing more. You are not agreeing to what the document says, and you take on no obligation under it.
Questions people ask on the call
Do I need to read the document? No. You are witnessing the signature, not the contents. You may be shown the page being signed.
What if I have concerns about what I am seeing? Say so, during the session. If the signer appears to be under pressure, or does not seem to understand what they are signing, tell the notary. That is precisely why a witness is there.
Can I leave once I have signed? Ask the notary. They will usually confirm when you are no longer needed.
Do I get a copy of the document? No. The notarised document and the certificate go to the person who booked the session. If you need a copy, ask them.
If something goes wrong
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You cannot get into the room | Check your email for the join link. Ask the notary to resend if needed |
| Your camera or microphone will not work | Try a different browser or device. Chrome and Safari are the most reliable |
| You get disconnected | Rejoin with a fresh link from the notary |
| You cannot attend at all | Tell the person who invited you before the session, not during it |
If you cannot attend
A session that legally requires a witness cannot go ahead without one. Tell the person who invited you as early as you can — they may be able to move the booking or find another witness. Silence on the day costs them their booking fee.
Afterwards
Nothing is required of you. Your identity document is deleted once the session is over — see Your privacy.