Our costs can usually be estimated after we see the documents and obtain information set out above. Typical costs range from $110.00 to witness a single document to upwards of $500.00 for more complex matters.
Normally if we have documents in advance only one appointment is necessary. We usually prepare any necessary certificates before your appointment. This is more efficient for you, much faster and less expensive. Appointments out of the office will involve an additional charge.
Details of the fees charged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are available from their website, www.dfat.gov.au. Please note the location of the Melbourne office and the usual office hours.
From 1 July 2015 all face-to-face service delivery will be provided by the Australian Passport Offices in all capital cities.
General telephone and email enquiries are now handled by the Australian Passports Information Service (APIS). The "document legalisation request form" is available from the Smart Traveller website at http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/services/legalising-documents-australia.html
Payment to DFAT must be by EFTPOS (in person) or credit card (Visa and MasterCard).
Office hours in Melbourne are currently 8.30 am to 1.00 pm.
To check whether an appointment to lodge documents for legalisation in the Australian Passports Office is necessary you should check the website before attending the office.
A link to the Smart Traveller website is provided here: www.smarttraveller.gov.au
Fees vary for each country. Telephone enquiries will usually be answered without delay by the respective embassies and consular offices.
In some circumstances interpretation may be required. Similarly an official translation of written documents may be needed. Please advise us if any document is in a language other than English and if the person signing is not literate in English and the language of the document.
We have facilities for black and white and colour copying to A4. In some circumstances larger documents can be reduced in size to A4. The reduction in size will be noted on any certificate attached to a copy.
Naturally you must produce the original document for examination by us even if you have arranged your own copying.
Visit our law firm for more.