Notary Services
Duly Notarized Meaning: What the Phrase Asks For on a Form or Letter
November 6, 20266 minute read
The duly notarized meaning is simple: a notary public has checked your identity, watched you sign or confirm the document, and applied the seal, all in the correct way. "Duly" just means "properly". Our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office can do this in person, online or on a home visit.
Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766 to ask what your form needs.
The catch most people miss is that a seal alone does not make a document duly notarized. The steps behind the seal must also be right, and a form that uses this phrase will check them.
Step by step
Duly Notarized Meaning: What Duly Notarized Means
When a form or letter says "duly notarized", it asks for three things:
1
The right person signs. The notary public checks your ID and confirms you are the person named in the document.
2
The notary sees it happen. You sign, or confirm your signature, in front of the notary. Signing at home first is a common reason for refusal.
3
The notary completes the act. The notary applies the seal and records the act in the way the law requires.
Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. In Dubai, notaries public are also regulated by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013.
If you only want the general idea of the word, read our page on what notarized means. The extra word "duly" is what makes the duly notarized meaning stricter.
When a Form or an Embassy Asks for a Duly Notarized Document
You will see the phrase on forms from many countries, often on visa, sponsorship, school and family papers. Embassies and consulates use it too. It tells you the document must be notarised properly, not just printed and signed.
Typical places you meet it:
- A sworn statement that supports a visa application.
- A letter of consent or a no objection letter.
- A power of attorney sent to another country.
- A declaration for a bank, school or employer.
The form usually does not tell you which notary to use. In the UAE, notary work is done by the Government notary public at Dubai Courts or by a licensed private notary. A private notary in Dubai is a lawyer licensed by Dubai Courts to carry out notarial acts. See our page on what a private notary is for the difference.
Ask about your document
Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
A Duly Notarized Affidavit: What Makes It Complete
A duly notarized affidavit is a written statement in which you confirm facts, and the notary public completes the act properly. Check these points before you sign:
- Every blank field is filled in, or crossed out where it does not apply.
- Your name matches your passport or Emirates ID exactly.
- You have not signed yet. You sign in front of the notary.
- The language works for the person who will read it. Official use may need a translation by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
For the meaning, wording and fees of the statement itself, see what an affidavit is.
Watch for
Common Reasons a Document Is Not Accepted
A document can carry a seal and still be sent back. These are the usual reasons:
- It was signed before the appointment.
- A field was left blank.
- The name differs from the ID.
- The person who signs did not bring proof of authority, for example when signing for a company.
- The document is going abroad and has not been attested in the right order.
For use abroad, the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. A document is attested by MOFAIC, then by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UAE. MOFAIC charges AED 150 for personal documents, and commercial documents cost more. Notarising a document does not replace these steps.
How Our In-House Notary Public Helps
We draft your document, handle the legal translation, and our in-house notary public notarises it, in person at our Business Bay office, online or at a home visit. An Arab notary public sits at our Business Bay office, 707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive.
Online notary public services run through the official channels, the Ministry of Justice E-Notary system and Dubai Courts remote attendance. We tell you whether your document can be done that way. Office appointments are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp answered 24/7.
Our prices start at AED 600 for affidavits and AED 50 per page for legal translation. A drafting add-on starts at AED 200. Home visits are quoted on request.
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
What is duly notarized?
A duly notarized document is one that a notary public has handled properly: ID checked, signature witnessed, seal applied. "Duly" means the correct process was followed. Our page on notarised documents in the UAE shows which papers go to a notary.
What does duly notarized mean?
It means the notarisation is complete and in order, not only stamped. The notary public must see you sign or confirm your signature, and the seal must be on the final document. If a step is missing, the form can refuse it.
What does duly notarized affidavit mean?
It means your sworn statement was signed in front of the notary and sealed in the proper way. The facts are yours, and the notary does not check that they are true. The notary confirms who you are and that you made the statement.
Is a scanned copy of a notarised document duly notarized?
Not by itself. A scan is a picture of the notarised original, and many offices ask to see the original. If you need a copy that others can rely on, ask us about a certified true copy before you send anything.
Can a UAE notary make a document duly notarized for use abroad?
A UAE notary can notarise the document, but the other country may ask for more. Attestation by MOFAIC and then the destination country's embassy or consulate is usually the next step. Tell us the country and we will explain the order.
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Call or WhatsApp +971 50 264 8766, or email help@notaryservicesindubai.com. Tell us the document and how many people will sign, and we will give you the government fee and our starting price in one message.
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