|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 The
Notaries Public Act (Cap 208) expressly provides
that every notary public shall have and may exercise
within Singapore all powers and functions which are
ordinarily exercised by notaries public in England.
Without prejudice to the generality of the powers
and functions, the practical functions of a notary
public follow those applicable in England, with some
variations, and are principally as follows: -
a) administer any oath or affirmation in connection
with any affidavit or statutory declaration which is
executed-
i) for the purpose of confirming or proving the due
execution of any document;
ii) by any master or member of the crew of any
vessel in respect of any matter concerning the
vessel; or
iii) for the purpose of being used in any court or
place outside Singapore;
b) take or attest any affidavit or statutory
declaration referred to in (a).
These shall not include the power to administer any
oaths or affirmation in connection with any
affidavit or statutory declaration which is executed
for the purpose of being used in any court or place
within Singapore.
In a nutshell, a notary public's duty is to attest
deeds, contracts, and other instruments that are to
be used abroad and to give a certificate of the due
execution of such documents duly authenticated by
his signature and notarial seal.
Unlike commissioners for oaths, a notary public is
in a position to witness a document signed in front
of him which is in a foreign language. It is
essential for the notary public to remember that he
is witnessing and attesting to the identity of the
signature, not the validity of the contents of the
document. However, it is prudent for a notary public
to only witness a document in an English equivalent
thereof translated by an official interpreter, and
the deponent signs both, and he so deposes and
attests in his notarial certificate.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|