Just over two years ago I posted about Commissioners for Oaths, who they were, what they did, and offered to provide the service myself. In part it was a test, to see what Google would do with it. Well, it's been so successful that somewhat reluctantly, I've decided that I can no longer offer the service. I say "reluctantly" because it's become apparent that it's incredibly hard for people to work out how to get documents sworn or affirmed. Recently, I had a phone call from a very charming elderly lady who desperately needed to get a document sworn. She told me her own solicitors (Fisher Meredith) based in Stockwell had advised her to go to the local County Court where the service is free, but that when she had gone in, they had refused to help her.
She was therefore prepared to make the effort to travel a fair distance to see me simply to get this relatively straightforward adminstrative task performed.
Shortly after that, another lady contacted me to get a document sworn - at the statutory fee of £5. I hesitated, but she seemed to be clear about what she wanted and I agreed to see her. When she came in, she told me that she had been quoted £60 by other solicitors to carry out the service - which should only take a few minutes. And of course, there's the rub. What should only take a few minutes often takes a great deal more than that, and it has got to the point that I have realised it is far more trouble than it is worth.
Whilst I understand why certain documentation require formal swearing or declaration, I think the burden should fall on the larger firms who are best placed to provide the service and not on the smaller firms who are already over-burdened. I accept that most of these firms are outside residential areas, but I don't see why they shouldn't be obliged to offer the service between certain times on certain days to members of the public. Given my own experience, it's clear they could easily use their own websites to both promote and manage the service and if my experience is anything to go by, the public would undoubedly benefit. It would also give some of the younger lawyers a chance to meet real people, often with real problems which are a far cry from the day to day work of the average commercial lawyer.
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