Can I get a witnessed signature at a police station?
Posted by Adept-Safety-8524@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 34 comments
Currently in the process of applying for an Irish passport for my newborn. Last step in the whole process is signing the documents. However the Irish passport office requires the signatures to be witnessed by a professional who they need to be able to contact to verify that they witnesses the signature.
In Ireland on of the easiest ways to do this was to get the Desk Sargent at the local Garda Barracks act as witness.
My question is could I get this done at my local police station?
Specific-Sundae2530@reddit
Go to any solicitors that advertises 'commissioner of oaths' I've had stuff witnessed before you'll have to pay but it's pretty straightforward
plz_be_nice_im_sad@reddit
But that costs
NobleRotter@reddit
It's usually ridiculously cheap and comes with a free story about how solicitors do this for next to nothing because they're such upstanding people
FrustratedDeckie@reddit
In a lot of cases it’s because they’re required by the The Commissioners for Oaths (Fees) Order 1993 to only charge £5 for witnessing and £2 for extra documents for many types of oath and statutory declarations where the only task is witnessing and not drafting
They do like to make up tall tales of charity and history about it though (or they bend the truth and try to charge hundreds because they “reviewed” the declaration before witnessing it)
Dependent_One6034@reddit
Cost me £5 a few years back, I asked why it was cash only, and he basically said it goes toward to firms Christmas doo.
FrustratedDeckie@reddit
The guy I usually use for stat decs etc describes it as going into his “slush fund”…. He apparently uses it to buy ice creams and lollies in summer and cakes in winter for the office, supposedly they used to use it to buy supplies for a literal slush puppy machine for office events, but the effort keeping it clean and working just wasn’t worth it.
SoftwareFew9236@reddit
I think you can go to your GPs too :)
TwoPlyDreams@reddit
Don’t eat an appointment for a non health matter.
WeDoingThisAgainRWe@reddit
They don’t use an appointment to do it. They do it as an admin piece.
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
And why should their admin time be taken up signing stuff for people?
WeDoingThisAgainRWe@reddit
You’re right. Fuck anyone who needs help with something.
wedontneednoeduc@reddit
They charge you.
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Most GPs won’t sign anything to do with passports anymore.
I don’t see anything to do with passports on your “helpful” link either.
nikhkin@reddit
I do not believe police stations offer this service.
Most solicitors will offer this for a nominal fee. Call up a local solicitor and ask what they'll charge. The last time I needed something similar, it was £10.
thombthumb84@reddit
Has to be cash. £10 is the going rate.
Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit
Quite a number of pharmacists also do this, just no one thinks to ask them.
Alyssa9876@reddit
It depends what they define as professional. In the past I have witnessed passport photos for people when I was a civil servant. Recently a friend who is also a county court judge witnessed the kids for us. Used to have a neighbour who was a headmaster who did stuff like this as well. Not sure what counts as professional currently or for the Irish authorities as only done UK passports. But worth checking then asking around family and neighbours to see if anyone qualifies and can do it for you.
Minimum-Perception72@reddit
Yes, double check what they accept as "professional", in the UK the list is more varied that you'd think. I'm a solo director of a very small ltd (basically I'm self-employed but operate through a vat registered LTD) and I've been able to sign documents before.
bluejackmovedagain@reddit
The list for Irish passports is much shorter. That's why most people get the police to do them.
PositivelyAcademical@reddit
Yes, it is shorter than the UK passport list, but it isn’t that different. Especially as it doesn’t require the witness to know/recognise the applicant - they may verify your identity by you showing them your ID.
u/Adept-Safety-8524, the list is here. For free options, pharmacists, clergy, or elected public representative (local councillor) would be my go to suggestions.
miowiamagrapegod@reddit
The list for recognician in Ireland is quite restrictive
poopio@reddit
When I got my UK passport I got the manager at my local to witness it for me!
Was interesting when I had to go to the passport office for an interview and they asked how I knew him.
spoons431@reddit
Civil servants are not acceptable for an irish passport!
The list of people who can sign is really restricted especially when compared to Biritsh ones
BOrdinary01@reddit
London Irish Centre in Camden. Did mine free and everything went fine. I made a donation but you dont have to. Think they have similar on Scotland if that end is closer. It was a few quid to get to London but I treated it as a day out. I tried solicitors but it was like talking to a brick wall.
GoodDoc@reddit
This was several years (over 15 years I think), but I'm Irish living in London and I was able to get my local publican to witness my signature.
She is Irish so knew the system, and I was a regular so she knew who I was. Didn't need to go through that process the last time I had to renew it.
Crazycatladyanddave@reddit
If you have a local Irish centre they will do this for you and be available to answer the phone. A lot of them have a specific day/time for it to be done but they are great.
Realistic-Muffin-165@reddit
Not quite a passport but I discovered my work had in-house solicitors who signed a document for me with no issues.
No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit
I had a bunch of documents needing verifying for a visa application and when I found my work colleague lawyer would do this for free, I was so chuffed!
pippaskipper@reddit
Do you have a friend that works for government/council?
SnooHabits8484@reddit
Not enough for an Irish passport. Solicitor, police, clergy iirc.
spoons431@reddit
Hi OP what i found when trying to pics for an irish one signed is ehat throws * a lot * of people is that for an irish passport the person signing doesnt actually have to know you, whereas for the UK one they have to have known you for 2+ years.
There is difference as for the irish one the person is just witnessing your signature, whereas they are verifying your ID with the British one.
In theory a UK police officer can sign sign, but because of the above they typically aren't used to signing these and often times won't do it. (Unless.you are in NI).
The list of acceptable people is also really restricted when compared to the British one. What you might find easiest to do is to find a church and get someone like a priest to sign it!.
Defiant_Size5991@reddit
Pretty much every high street solicitor with a commissioner of oaths can handle this for a few quid, and it'll be a lot less hassle than trying the police station. Save yourself the runaround and just book in with a local solicitor.
jasilucy@reddit
Any local solicitor will help usually. Last time I needed a signature, I went to a local solicitor firm and all they requested in return was a charitable donation.
EldritchCleavage@reddit
You can use a notary but it will cost you.