Trusted Melbourne Notary Public for Individuals, Businesses and International Clients
If you need to use an Australian document overseas, it may need to be notarised by a Notary Public, authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), or issued with an Apostille Certificate before it will be accepted by foreign governments, courts, banks, universities or other overseas authorities.
At Chua Tan & Associates, we provide professional Notary Public services in Melbourne for individuals, corporations and international organisations. As an experienced Australian law firm with a qualified Notary Public, we assist clients with the preparation, notarisation and authentication of documents for use in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Whether you require a passport to be notarised, a Power of Attorney for overseas use, company documents certified, or assistance obtaining an Apostille or DFAT Authentication, we offer a reliable, efficient and personalised service from our Melbourne CBD office.
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is a senior legal practitioner appointed by the Supreme Court to perform internationally recognised notarial acts.
Unlike a Justice of the Peace (JP) or an ordinary solicitor, a Notary Public has authority to prepare, certify and authenticate documents that are intended for use overseas.
The official seal and signature of an Australian Notary Public are recognised by foreign governments, embassies, courts, financial institutions, universities and commercial organisations around the world.
A Melbourne Notary Public can:
- Verify the identity of individuals signing documents
- Witness signatures for international documents
- Certify copies of original documents
- Prepare Notarial Certificates
- Notarise Powers of Attorney
- Authenticate company and commercial documents
- Notarise statutory declarations and affidavits for overseas use
- Assist with Apostille Certificates
- Arrange DFAT Authentication
- Assist with consular legalisation where required
Our office regularly assists clients whose documents are to be used in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and many other jurisdictions.
Our Notarial Services
We provide a comprehensive range of international notarial services for both individuals and businesses.
Personal Documents
We regularly notarise:
- Australian Passports
- Chinese Passports
- Foreign Passports
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Divorce Orders
- Citizenship Certificates
- Police Checks
- University Degrees
- Academic Transcripts
- Driver Licences
- Identity Documents
- Powers of Attorney
- Consent Letters
- Statutory Declarations
- Affidavits
- Wills and Estate Documents
- Court Documents
- Medical Documents
- Immigration Documents
Whether your documents are required for immigration, overseas property transactions, inheritance matters, study abroad, marriage, banking or litigation, we can advise on the appropriate notarial process.
Corporate & Commercial Documents
We also provide notarial services for Australian and international businesses, including:
- ASIC Company Documents
- Certificates of Registration
- Constitutions
- Board Resolutions
- Shareholder Resolutions
- Commercial Contracts
- Trust Documents
- Property Documents
- Banking Documents
- International Trade Documents
- Intellectual Property Documents
- Corporate Powers of Attorney
- Company Authorisations
- Business Agreements
Our commercial clients include private companies, multinational corporations, property developers, investors, financial institutions and overseas businesses requiring Australian documents for international transactions.
Apostille Services (Hague Convention)
Australia is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
If your documents are to be used in another Hague Convention member country like China, they will usually require:
- Notarisation by a Notary Public (where applicable); and
- An Apostille Certificate issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Our office manages the entire process on your behalf, ensuring your documents are prepared correctly and submitted efficiently.
DFAT Authentication
If your documents are intended for use in countries that are not members of the Hague Convention, an Apostille may not be sufficient.
Instead, the documents generally require:
- Notarisation (where applicable)
- DFAT Authentication
- Consular or Embassy Legalisation (where required)
We regularly assist clients preparing documents for use in Vietnam and other non-Hague Convention jurisdictions and can advise on the specific requirements applicable to each destination country.
Why Choose Chua Tan Associates?
Choosing the right Notary Public is important. Overseas authorities often have strict requirements, and incorrectly prepared documents can result in costly delays.
Clients choose Chua Tan & Associates because we offer:
- Experienced Australian Principal Lawyer and Notary Public
- Convenient Melbourne CBD location
- Professional English and Chinese language services
- Extensive experience with international legal documents
- Comprehensive Apostille and DFAT Authentication services
- Assistance for both private individuals and businesses
- Prompt appointments
- Urgent services where available
- Transparent professional fees
- Confidential and personalised service
- Practical legal advice tailored to your circumstances
Our objective is to ensure your documents are accepted overseas with minimal delay and maximum confidence.
Countries We Commonly Assist
- Greater China including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Japan
- South Korea
- India
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- New Zealand
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- Many other countries worldwide
Common Reasons for Notarisation
Our clients frequently require notarial services for:
- Overseas property purchases and sales
- International banking transactions
- Foreign company formation
- Overseas inheritance matters
- Probate and estate administration
- Immigration and visa applications
- Overseas employment
- International education
- Marriage overseas
- Divorce proceedings
- Court proceedings
- International trade and investment
- Share transfers
- Business expansion into foreign markets
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Notary Public or a Justice of the Peace?
A Justice of the Peace (JP) is authorised to witness certain documents within Australia. However, documents intended for overseas use are commonly required to be notarised by a Notary Public. We can advise you on the appropriate process based on the destination country.
How long does notarisation take?
Many documents can be notarised during your appointment, provided all original documents and identification are available. Apostille and DFAT Authentication timeframes depend on government processing requirements.
Do I need to bring the original documents?
Yes. In most cases, original documents must be produced so that the Notary Public can verify their authenticity before notarisation.
Can you arrange Apostille and DFAT Authentication?
Yes. We provide a complete end-to-end service, including notarisation, Apostille, DFAT Authentication and guidance on consular legalisation where required.
Contact Chua Tan Associates
If you require a Melbourne Notary Public, Apostille, DFAT Authentication, or international document certification, our experienced team is here to assist.
We are committed to providing efficient, professional and reliable notarial services for individuals, businesses and international clients.
Contact Chua Tan Associates today to arrange an appointment or request a quotation. We look forward to assisting you with your international document requirements.
