How to Choose a Notary, Including for Certified Translation

Why price does not help you choose

Notary fees are fixed by the Notaries (Service Fees) Regulations, 5739-1978, and every notary in Israel charges the same fee for the same notarial act. Related legal services, such as drafting the document, are not part of the notary fee. The full tariff and a calculator by type of act are available in the 2026 notary fee schedule.

Six things worth checking

1. Experience with your type of document. Authentication of a signature, a power of attorney, consent for a minor's travel, a certified true copy and a translation are different acts, each with its own requirements. Ask whether the notary prepares documents of this kind on a regular basis.
2. Command of the translation languages. In a certified translation, the notary certifies that the translation is correct (section 7(4) of the Law). It is therefore important that the notary commands both languages. The office translates documents between Hebrew and English, including professional documents in engineering, technical and medical language.
3. Familiarity with the requirements at the destination. An embassy, a foreign authority, a bank or a university abroad will often require an apostille or particular wording. An experienced notary will ask where the document is going before starting work.
4. Availability and remote service. For many services you can send the document in advance and receive an estimate before attending, and some can be completed entirely online.
5. No conflict of interest. A notary may not exercise his powers in a matter of his own or of his relative, partner or employee (section 10 of the Law).
6. A licensed notary. Notary licences are granted by the Ministry of Justice. Do not hesitate to ask the notary for his licence number.

Certified translation: what happens in practice

• Send the document (a scan or a clear photograph) and state where it is going.
• Receive an estimate based on the number of words in the translation.
• The notary prepares the translation, or checks an existing translation, and certifies its correctness.
• If required, an apostille from the court or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is added (see Apostille and certified translation).

Warning signs

• A "certified notarial translation" offered by someone who is not a notary.
• A promise that the document is "sure to be accepted" by the embassy.
• A price quote that differs from the tariff in the regulations.

The office's experience

Amos Ilan, Advocate and Notary, an advocate since 2003 (Israel Bar no. 35320) and a notary holding notary licence no. 214444. More than 1,600 notarial certificates have been issued by the office to date, among them translations, authentications of signatures, powers of attorney, consents for minors' travel, certified true copies and wills.

Sample translations (with identifying details removed) appear on the translation samples page. The service is also available in English.

More on this topic: Notary fees | Certified translation | Apostille