How much do notary services cost in Nigeria?

Abdulateef Muhammed of Abdul Muhammed Law Practice answers the question of how much does it cost to notarize documents in Nigeria in a clear and direct fashion.

1. It depends

The easiest way for me to answer this question is to state that It depends on the type of document and the notary public.

However, this sort of an answer does not really help you and it is intended that this piece should actually assist you. Before answering the question in a fully responsive manner I want to state a few things in the next paragraph.

2. Nothing is fixed

There is no fixed charge and fees of charges differ from one notary public to another. The charges will also differ by locality, such that, you should expect a notary public to charge for higher in Lagos than a notary public would charge in Kabba, Kogi State.

However, even though the charges for notary services differ , one thing is common to all notary services is the underlying principle that notary services are not to be charged at fully commercial rates since a notary public is a private individual (who happens to be lawyer) that has been constituted under the Notaries Public Act by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates deeds power of attorney foreign and international business.

Generally what this means is that a notary public cannot charge a percentage of the commercial value of your document or business, but this does not answer the question how much does it cost for notary services in Nigeria and I will dive right into that query in paragraphs 4 – 15 below.

3. Affidavits

Declarations, affidavits and jurat. Statutory declarations, affidavits and jurats before a Nigerian notary public should cost in the range of NGN10, 000 to NGN3, 000 per signature of the notary public. Usually you can expect a 50 percentage rebate for counter-parts where counterparts are appropriate.

4. Attestation

Attestation or ‘witnessing’ and the authentication the execution of documents, agreements and Deed of conveyance by a notary should cost in the range of NGN20, 000 to NGN10, 000 per signature of the notary public.

Usually you can expect a 50 percentage rebate for counter-parts where counterparts are appropriate. Where any one or both of the parties to the document or agreement is a company the charge tends to be at the higher end of the charges spectrum.

5. Power of attorney

A notary public can draft and witness the execution of a power of attorney for both individuals and companies and the bundled services (drafting and witnessing) should cost in the range of NGN50, 000 to NGN25, 000 per power of attorney.

If the notary public does not draft the power of attorney, then the charges should be less just because notarial service requested will be limited just to the witnessing of signature, in which case paragraph 5 above applies.

6. Identity certification

A notary public can issue a certificate of identity of the director of a company. This should cost in the range of NGN100, 000 to NGN30, 000 per director.

A certificate of identity not connected with directorship of a company should cost in the range of NGN25, 000 to NGN10, 000 per certificate.

7. Authentication and legalization

Authentication and legalization services are often necessary after your documents have been notarized.

These are additional services to notarization of your document. Authentication involves helping you to procure a ‘confirmation’ from the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ‘regularity’ of your document, while legalization of the same document involves procuring the ‘validation’ of the confirmed document from the consulate of the country to which the document is going to be used, like, for example, China.

Educational or immigration documents often require authentication, and some countries require further legalization. These services should cost in the range of NGN120, 000 to NGN70, 000 per document.

8. Certification of a true copy

This should cost in the range of NGN20, 000 to NGN5, 000 per signature of the notary public.

9. Deed of conveyance attestation

Attestation of the signatures on a deed of conveyance or commercial lease is not to be charged based on the commercial value of the transaction, but rather as a flat charge.

This should cost in the range of NGN30, 000 to NGN10, 000 per original deed of conveyance or commercial lease.

Usually you can expect a 50 percentage rebate for counter-parts where counterparts are appropriate.

10. Ship bill of sale

A bill of sale of a ship is required to be attested by a notary public.

The charge is not to be based on the commercial value of the sale. This will be a flat rate should cost in the range of NGN200, 000 to NGN40, 000.

This will also apply to charter party agreement attestations.

11. Gazette publication

If you require insertion or publication in the Federal Government Gazette and you want a notary public to see the process through for you to delivery, you it should cost in the range of NGN900, 000 to NGN600, 000 per publication.

12. Section 84 certificate

This should cost in the range of NGN20, 000 to NGN5, 000 per certificate.

13. Copyright documentation

This should cost in the range of NGN100, 000 to NGN50, 000 per manuscript.

14. Just estimates

The above estimates of charges should be regarded as a guide and are not prescriptive; you are advised to ask your notary public specifically for his charges before setting out to meet him for your appointment – just so that there are no surprises.

15. Individual differences

You must recognize that the charges for notarization and notary services in Nigeria will differ from one notary public to another, and that the charges would take cognizance of the experience of the notary public, and your location and the complexity involved in the services that you might require from the Nigerian notary public.