Best Notaries Public in Australia
Updated 22 September 2026
Compare notaries public in 7 Australian cities, ranked on their public client review record. A notary public is a senior lawyer who witnesses signatures, certifies copies and authenticates documents for use overseas, under the Public Notaries Acts and Supreme Court rules of each state and territory.
The first step is to check what the receiving country or organisation asks for. Most overseas documents follow the same path: the notary signs and seals the document, then the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) adds an apostille or an authentication certificate. The ranked lists below follow the method in how we rank law firms.
Editor's picks
Chosen by our editors from verified facts and always labelled. Shown separately from the data-ranked list. How we rank law firms
AM Legal
AM Legal is a South Australian law firm in Aldinga, practising since 2007, with family law, estate planning and commercial services and a notary public service.
- Office at 29 Old Coach Road, Aldinga SA 5173.
- Practising since 2007.
- Offers notarial services for documents to be used in Australia and overseas.
Aldinga SA
View firm profileTop-rated notaries public by city
Melbourne
Full ranking →- 1
John Pearce Solicitor & Notary Public Melbourne★★★★★ 5.0 (381) - 2
Peter Macmillan & Associates, Solicitors & Notaries★★★★★ 5.0 (188) - 3
ProActive Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (136)
Sydney
Full ranking →- 1
Kris Ahn Immigration Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (586) - 2MGL Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (492)
- 3
City Notaries★★★★★ 5.0 (355)
Brisbane
Full ranking →- 1
Brisbane Notary★★★★★ 5.0 (184) - 2
Auslaw Partners (Lawyers Recommended) | 澳和律业（好评高分，律师优选）★★★★★ 4.9 (438) - 3
YHC Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (95)
Perth
Full ranking →- 1
Notary Express★★★★★ 5.0 (2,574) - 2
Ballpen Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (1,140) - 3
Stamp Wills & Notary★★★★★ 5.0 (307)
Adelaide
Full ranking →- 1
BSG Lawyers & Notary Public Adelaide★★★★★ 5.0 (477) - 2Walter A. Orellana Solicitor & Notary Public★★★★★ 5.0 (53)
- 3
ADLV Law, Adelaide★★★★★ 5.0 (21)
Gold Coast
Full ranking →- 1
Steven Mahoney Lawyers & Notary★★★★★ 5.0 (50) - 2
Gold Coast Notary Public★★★★★ 4.9 (40) - 3
CJM Lawyers★★★★★ 4.7 (281)
Parramatta
Full ranking →- 1
Doctrine Legal - Solicitors & Notaries★★★★★ 5.0 (342) - 2
Phang Legal★★★★★ 4.9 (1,178) - 3
Takchi & Associates Solicitors & Notaries★★★★★ 5.0 (61)
What does a notary public do?
A notary public performs notarial acts that foreign governments, courts, banks and registries accept. The tasks are:
- Verify the identity of the person signing, usually from a passport.
- Witness signatures on documents such as powers of attorney, affidavits and statutory declarations for foreign use.
- Certify copies of passports, degrees, transcripts and company records.
- Prepare notarial certificates that attach to the document.
- Authenticate company documents, such as board resolutions and certificates of good standing.
- Administer oaths and affirmations for foreign proceedings.
- Arrange the DFAT apostille or authentication for the client, where offered.
The What Is a Notary Public? guide explains the office in more detail, including the difference between a notary and a JP.
Public notary
"Public notary" is the term used in the NSW, Victorian and Western Australian Acts. It means the same office as "notary public".
Notary services
Notary services cover the notarial acts above, plus the DFAT step and, where needed, embassy legalisation. A notary does not check whether a foreign document is legally correct under foreign law.
What is the difference between an apostille and authentication?
An apostille and an authentication certificate are both issued by DFAT, and which one you need depends on the destination country. DFAT is the Australian legalisation authority, and no other authority in Australia can legalise documents.
| Apostille | Authentication | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Countries that are party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents 1961 | Countries that are not party to that Convention |
| Issued by | DFAT | DFAT |
| Further step | None; the apostille is the final step | The document usually goes to the destination country's embassy or consulate for legalisation |
| DFAT fee | $105 per document on DFAT's published consular fee schedule (April 2026) | $105 per document on the same schedule |
DFAT verifies the signature, seal or stamp on an original Australian public document, such as a birth certificate from a state registry. Photocopies and private documents need to be notarised first. The receiving country decides which certificate it accepts, so confirm the requirement before the appointment.
Who can be a notary public in Australia?
A notary public in Australia is an experienced lawyer appointed under state or territory law. The requirements differ by state.
| State | Appointing law | Main requirements |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Public Notaries Act 1997 (NSW) and Public Notaries Appointment Rules 1998; administered by the Legal Profession Admission Board | Legal practitioner for at least 5 continuous years, a current practising certificate and a notarial practice course |
| Victoria | Public Notaries Act 2001 (Vic); applications to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board | Australian lawyer with at least 5 years of practising certificates as a principal, an approved notarial practice course, and fit and proper |
| Western Australia | Public Notaries Act 1979 (WA); appointed by the Full Court of the Supreme Court | A legal practitioner appointed as a General Public Notary or a District Public Notary |
In the other states and territories, notaries are also lawyers appointed under local legislation or Supreme Court rules.
When do you need a notary public?
You need a notary public when a foreign authority asks for a notarised, apostilled or legalised document. Common cases are:
- a power of attorney to sell or manage property overseas;
- certified copies of degrees and transcripts for overseas study or registration;
- company documents for a foreign bank, registry or contract;
- documents for an overseas marriage, adoption, inheritance or visa;
- affidavits and statutory declarations for foreign courts.
For documents used within Australia, a Justice of the Peace or another authorised witness is usually enough.
How much does a notary public cost?
A notary public in Australia typically charges between $100 and $250 for the first signature or document, with extra charges for additional pages, signatures and certified copies. The ranges are indicative as at September 2026 and vary by notary and city.
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| First notarised signature or document | Around $100 to $250 |
| Each additional signature or certified copy | Around $50 to $120 |
| Arranging the DFAT step for you | A handling fee, quoted by the notary |
| DFAT apostille or authentication | $105 per document (DFAT consular fee schedule, April 2026) |
| Embassy legalisation (non-Convention countries) | Set by the embassy |
In Western Australia, the Legal Profession (Public Notaries) Determination 2025 prescribes maximum notarial fees.
How to choose a notary public
Choose a notary public by checking these points before booking:
- Current appointment. Check that the notary is on the roll or register of notaries in the state; the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board keeps the NSW Roll of Public Notaries.
- Languages. A notary who speaks the language of the document or the signer can reduce the need for translation.
- DFAT handling. Ask whether the notary lodges the apostille or authentication for you and how long it takes.
- Fixed quote. Get a written quote per document, per signature and per copy.
- Legal advice. A notary who is also a practising lawyer can advise on the document itself, such as a power of attorney, if engaged to do so.
Notaries Public by location
Notary guides
- What Is a Notary Public?: the definition, notary vs JP, and the apostille process.
- Power of Attorney vs Enduring Power of Attorney: the Australian forms, often notarised for use overseas.
- Lawyer vs Solicitor vs Barrister: the legal roles that notaries come from.
City rankings cover Notaries Public in Sydney, Notaries Public in Melbourne, Notaries Public in Brisbane and Notaries Public in Perth.
Frequently asked questions
Is a public notary the same as a notary public?
Yes. "Public notary" and "notary public" mean the same office. NSW, Victoria and Western Australia use the term "public notary" in their appointing Acts.
Can a Justice of the Peace notarise a document for overseas use?
No. A JP witnesses documents for use in Australia. Documents going overseas usually need a notary's signature and seal, followed by an apostille or authentication from DFAT.
Who issues apostilles in Australia?
DFAT is the only Australian authority that legalises documents, by issuing an apostille or an authentication certificate. Many notaries arrange the DFAT step for their clients.
Are notary fees regulated?
In Western Australia, maximum notarial fees are prescribed by the Legal Profession (Public Notaries) Determination 2025. In other states, notaries set their own fees, so compare written quotes.