Sunday, July 13, 2014

Notary vs. Lawyer


Why should I choose you over lawyers?
Good question, and frankly, it is a personal preference. Some clients are more comfortable dealing with lawyers (who, by virtue of the laws in BC, are also notaries public), while others are more comfortable dealing with notaries. With that said, we do provide a more personal service that you might not get in a large law firm with paralegals, legal assistants, secretaries and lawyers involved.

Some notaries may charge you less for the same legal service, while others, as in any competitive business, charge a similar rate. It would be up to you, the client, to do some homework if you want to find a legal services provider that fits your budget.

The one advantage of using a notary is our insurance coverage. We have $10 million dollars professional liabilities insurance policy in place, as required by our regulator, for all members of the Society of Notaries Public of BC.  In comparison, members of the Law Society only carry $1 million dollars professional liabilities policy. We also have insurance to cover funds entrusted to us by our clients, in the event of misappropriation or other criminal activities. Finally, the Notaries Act specifies a special fund to be in place in the event of claims for compensation arises from the misappropriation of money by notaries.

Where a notary cannot help you, he/she may refer you out to a lawyer, accountant, or other professionals as required in the circumstances. Likewise, your lawyer may refer you to a notary for work that we can do on our end.

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