Complaints

Notaries are bound by practice, accounting and other Rules broadly similar to those affecting solicitors. They are fully insured, and their undertakings in conveyancing and all other matters should be accepted without question.

The Notaries Society is a membership organisation for notaries practising in England & Wales and not all notaries are members. The profession is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Notaries are required to provide details in writing of how to make a complaint when they accept instructions to act in a particular matter. Any complaint against a notary should be made directly to the notary in the first instance.  If the matter cannot be immediately resolved the notary will refer the complaint to The Notaries Society (if s/he is a member of the Society).  The Notaries Society will deal with the complaint under their Approved Complaints Procedure  which is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution to any dispute. Details of the Approved Complaints Procedure can be obtained from the Secretary of the Society, see contact details below..  If the notary is not a member of the Society complaint should be made to The Faculty Office direct and they will deal with the matter.

In either case, complaints may also be made to the Legal Ombudsman after a period of eight weeks from the date the complaint was first made.

Complaints to the Notaries Society should be addressed to Christopher Vaughan, Secretary of The Notaries Society, P O Box 1023 Ipswich IP1 9XB.  Email: secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk

Complaints to The Faculty Office should be addressed to The Registrar, The Faculty Office 1 The Sanctuary Westminster London SW1P 3JT telephone 020 7222 5381 email:faculty.office@1Thesanctuary.com

Complaints to the Legal Ombudsman should be addressed to Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167 Slough SL1 0EH

Telephone: 0300 555 0333. Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk