I have to sign some UK documents in front of a Solicitor in Switzerland. Can anyone recommend a good English-speaking solicitor (at a reasonable price )?
Hello,
You would normally have a signature witnessed by a public notary rather than a lawyer. For Zürich check here https://www.notariate.zh.ch/deu/notariat think it's around CHF 25
Hi GParker,
Thanks for the information. I looked into this and the Notary will only authenticate my signature. I need to provide a Witness with their address and I have been told that the witness must be a solicitor.
There is no such thing as a solicitor in Switzerland, so you are off to a bad start. Who is being so specific? Most laws provide a few options, such as peace commissioners (Ireland, can't member what they are called in the UK), chartered accountants, embassy staff, senior police staff etc....
Any solicitor will do that here for about 400. Meier in Zurich is a very good guy.
Just get it notarized and an appostlla (which notatarizes the notary's signature).
Your local commune is the cheapest way to get it notarized.
Tom
Yes, I remember doing that a few years ago. Cheaper option.
Of course there are
Many Swiss nationals and Swiss-based ex-pats are admitted to practice in England and Wales. This can be checked through the Law Society or the SRA.
As the OP seems to have already discovered they will authenticate a signature but that does not seem to be enough...
As I said there is not such thing in Switzerland as a Swiss solicitor and that you seen to agree with since your are now referring to the Law Society. And in that respect BREXIT changed the rights of recognition and practice outside the UK.
Depending on the Documents, as Jim mentioned, there might be many ways to skin this cat.
For example, when I got my Irish Passport, there was a list of professions qualified to witness the document (teacher, priest(!), lawyer, bank manager, etc) - the list is slightly outdated and parochial, but nonetheless, I was able to just find any practicing lawyer to sign the documents - a guy in the next room at work was just fine, but a manager at the bank (as opposed to a bank manager) was not acceptable. Perhaps the CEO would have been OK?!
You said no Solicitors in Switzerland and I corrected you.
As for no Swiss Solicitors, is a totally different matter ...
Check out the rue de Berne in Geneva. Quite a few there, or so I’m told.
Thank you BritS for using the figure of speech 'many ways to skin this cat'. You've made my transition into the weekend just a little bit better!
Glad to hear you're feline good. Enjoy the weekend.
You can now get a UK solicitor to do this for you over videocall.
We use Stephen Campion at Campions.co.uk and he is always relatively quick and efficient.
I've signed (and he has witnessed) UK mortgage documents this way. You then send all the originals by snail mail.
There are no doubt other providers too.
Kind regards
Ian