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Solicitor Certification
Sending a UK document abroad? You will probably be asked to prove that your copy matches the original. That is exactly what solicitor certification is for. A solicitor certificate confirms that a copy is a true likeness of the original. It is usually the step needed before the FCDO will apostille copies, academic paperwork or business records.
- Route confirmed before anything starts
- FCDO apostille handling included
- Secure, tracked return
- Clear updates throughout
£20
Starting from
Next day
Priority turnaround
Tracked
Secure return delivery
- FCDO apostille obtained for you
- 3 working-day turnaround
- Return delivery included
- Route checked before processing
- Secure & confidential
- OFFICIALLY REGISTERED
A registered team that handles the detail
Legalisation4You is based in London and registered with the UK Legalisation Office. Our staff visit the FCDO in person every working day, so nothing is left to the post. When you need a solicitor to certify documents for use overseas, working with a team that knows what the FCDO expects means far fewer rejected applications.
Daily hand delivery
to the FCDO
UK Legalisation Office
registered agent
Premium next-day
access
FCDO registered
Registered with the UK Legalisation Office
Daily service
We visit the FCDO every working day
Secure & confidential
Handled with the highest care
UK-based team
Real experts, Mon–Fri 8am to 5pm
Proven experience
Thousands of UK documents every year
What does
Solicitor Certification actually mean?
Solicitor certification of documents is the process of a practising solicitor checking your original paperwork and confirming, in writing, that the copy is accurate and unaltered. It is not a comment on what the document says. It simply confirms that the copy can be trusted. A solicitor certification stamp, together with the solicitor’s signature and details, shows the next authority that the copy has been checked.
A wide range of UK paperwork needs a solicitor certificate before it can move on to an apostille or embassy legalisation. Passports are a common example. Solicitor passport certification confirms that a copy of your passport is a true copy, which many overseas employers, banks and universities ask for. Qualifications work the same way. For graduates who need to legalise degree certificate UK solicitor certification usually comes first, followed by the apostille, so that an employer or university abroad will accept the qualification.
GOOD TO KNOW
If your document is heading to a country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, certification followed by an apostille is usually enough. If it's going elsewhere, we'll also arrange embassy attestation, handled under one order rather than several.
How it works
document → 02FCDO
apostille → 03Used
overseas
FCDO apostille • UK documents • Overseas use
How we handle solicitor certification of documents
Searching for a solicitor certify documents service shouldn’t mean chasing appointments or guessing which paperwork qualifies. Our process has four simple stages.
Need Your Documents Certified Quickly?
Our Express Apostille service is processed the next working day for eligible documents received before the cut-off time.
We confirm eligibility before you order. →
- YOU START
- 1
Order online
Place your order and tell us your document type and destination country. It takes a couple of minutes.
- WE HANDLE IT
- 2
We check your route
Our UK team confirms the correct route and whether any certification is needed before any work begins.
- 3
FCDO apostille
We hand-deliver your document to the Legalisation Office and obtain the apostille, keeping you updated.
- DONE
- 4
Returned securely
Your apostilled document comes back by tracked delivery, with the solicitor certification stamp clearly visible on the certified page. Embassy attestation is arranged too, if required.
CHECK BEFORE YOU ORDER
Which type of document do you have?
Pick the closest match to see the likely route. We always confirm the exact requirements for solicitor passport certification before any work begins.
Documents we certify and legalise every week
We handle a broad mix of UK paperwork and already know which route each type needs. Some of the most common requests for certify documents solicitor and solicitor certification of documents services include.
Government-issued originals
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Death Certificate
ACRO Police Certificate
Criminal Record Check
DBS Certificate
Criminal Record Check
Other personal & official
Divorce documents
Name change
Court documents
HMRC letters
Companies House
Certification may apply first
Academic documents
Degrees
Diplomas
Transcripts
University letters
Certification may apply first
Business & corporate
Incorporation
Board resolutions
Invoices
Contracts
Route depends on format
Legal documents
Power of attorney
Affidavits
Declarations
Agreements
Notary certification first
Medical & financial
Medical consent form
Immunisation record
Financial guarantee
Sponsorship letter
Bank statements
Certification usually first
- EXTRA STEPS, HANDLED FOR YOU
Additional solicitor certification and embassy attestation managed for you
If your document needs solicitor or notary certification before the apostille, or embassy legalisation for a country outside the Hague Convention afterwards, we arrange every required stage and confirm the complete route before work begins. Solicitor certification is included in apostille pricing for all eligible documents.
Before the apostille
UK legalisation
FCDO apostille
The UK Legalisation Office authenticates the signature, seal or stamp.
dependent
After the apostille
Embassy attestation
Some non-Hague destinations require an embassy or consular stage after the apostille.
Government-issued originals often go straight to the apostille. Solicitor and notary are alternative certification routes, so most documents do not need both.
Common attestation destinations
Requirements depend on the country, document and receiving authority. We confirm before processing.
UAE Embassy
Qatar Embassy
Chinese Embassy
Malaysia
Kuwait
Jordan
Bahrain
Oman
Iraq
Yemen
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What our clients say
Individuals, law firms, and businesses across the UK come back to us for fast, accurate legalisation work. Many tell us the process felt less stressful once a team confirmed the route and handled their solicitors certifying documents and certify documents solicitor requests, rather than working it out alone.
Rated 5.0
100+ Google reviews
1,000s
Documents every year
15+
Embassy destinations
Mon–Fri
UK support
Frequently Asked Questions: Solicitor Certification
Answers to common questions about solicitor certification, how it works, when it’s needed, and what to expect before your document is apostilled.
CTA: Don't Know Where to Start?
Give us the document type and destination, and we'll tell you the exact steps involved; no payment needed until you're ready.
What is solicitor certification?
Solicitor certification is when a practising UK solicitor visually compares a document copy with the original and states in writing that the copy is a true replica of the original document.
When do I need solicitor certification?
Sometimes you might have to have a document certified by a solicitor before another country accepts it as a certified document that takes an apostille, embassy legalisation visa, employment, education, or business purpose.
Can a solicitor certify a copy of my document?
Yes. An active solicitor has the right to examine your genuine document and then match it with a photocopy before certifying that the photocopy is an exact replication of the original.
Which documents can a solicitor certify?
Solicitors can certify many document types, including academic certificates, business records, identification documents, contracts, powers of attorney, and other paperwork requiring certified copies for overseas use.
Do I need solicitor certification before an apostille?
Not always. Some original government-issued documents can go directly to the FCDO for an apostille, while certain copies and documents require solicitor or notary certification first.
Can you arrange solicitor certification and an apostille together?
Yes. Eligible documents can have solicitor certification arranged before submission to the FCDO for an apostille, allowing the required stages to be handled together under one order.
How does solicitor certification work?
You provide your original document and required copy. A solicitor checks both, confirms they match, and certifies the copy before it moves to the next legalisation stage.
Can you certify academic documents for overseas use?
Yes. Academic documents may require certification before apostille or embassy legalisation, depending on the document, destination country, and receiving organisation. Requirements are confirmed before processing begins.
Do degree certificates need solicitor certification?
It depends on the destination and document. Some degree certificates can receive an apostille directly, while certified copies may require solicitor certification before further legalisation.
What is the difference between solicitor and notary certification?
Both can certify documents, but the required route depends on the document and destination. A solicitor and notary are alternative certification routes, so most documents need only one.
Can solicitor certification be used for documents outside the UK?
Yes. For documents destined for other countries, UK solicitor certification is possible as an element of the legalisation process, but there may be need also for other apostille or embassy requirements for that country.
How long will solicitor certification take?
Per the document and service selected, you may specify the period of time. For some documents there may be an expedite (faster) option including overnight apostille processing (next working day) for documents arriving before the date and time specified deadline.
What fees can I expect for solicitor certificate services?
The fee is related to the document in question and the legalisation step that it takes. From a basic price of about 20, the overall final price shall be known after you have shared your documents and destination requirements with the certification office.
Shall I provide the original document for solicitor certification?
You may have to produce the original document. The reason is that the solicitor has to verify the original document before attesting a copy to its content. Yet, according to the documents, your requirements may differ.
Will I need embassy attestation after the solicitor has done the certification?
More likely than not, you will. Apart from solicitor and apostille attestation, some countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention may require legalisation through an embassy. In the end, embassy requirements vary depending on the country where the document is intended to be used, and who is going to be the recipient of the document.
Can you check which certification route my document needs?
Yes. Simply share your document type and final destination country with us, and we will let you know if you will need a solicitor certification, notary certification, apostille, translation, or embassy legalisation.
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- Eligibility confirmed first
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E-Apostille
- Suitability checked first
- Delivered by email
Before the apostille
Solicitor Certification
- Arranged with your order
- Only where required
Why choose Legalisation4You
Trust built into every stage
Route checked
We confirm exactly what your document and destination require before any work begins.
Service prepared
We coordinate certification, notary, apostille, translation and embassy attestation where required.
Authorities handled
Our team submits to the right authorities and manages every step.
Updates sent
We keep you informed at every stage, so you always know what is happening and when.
Tracked return
Your documents are returned securely by tracked delivery.
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Correct from the start
We confirm your document and destination route before work begins, then coordinate certification, notary, apostille, translation and embassy attestation where required.
NO GUESSWORK
Real people. Clear updates.
Speak to our UK-based team Monday to Friday. We keep you informed at every stage, so you always know what is happening and when.
UK-BASED SUPPORT
Secure handling. Wider expertise.
Your documents are handled securely and confidentially, with support available for more than 15 embassy destinations.
SECURE & CONFIDENTIAL
Google Reviews
Checked before processing
We confirm the correct route first
Updates throughout
We keep you informed at every step
Returned securely
Your documents returned by tracked delivery