Right of diplomatic agents and consular officers to administer oaths and do notarial acts in certain cases.
10
1
A diplomatic agent or consular officer of any State may, if authorised to do so under the laws of that State, administer oaths, take affidavits and do notarial acts—
a
required by a person for use in that State or under the laws thereof; or
b
otherwise required by a national of that State but not for use in the United Kingdom except under the laws of some other country or
c
in connection with an international will.
2
Her Majesty may by Order in Council exclude or restrict the provisions of the preceding subsection in relation to the diplomatic agents or consular officers of any State if it appears to Her that in any territory of that State diplomatic agents or consular officers of the United Kingdom are not permitted to perform functions corresponding in nature and extent to those authorised by that subsection.
3
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for applying section 6 of the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889 (powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad) to countries within the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland by requiring the section to be construed as if—
a
the references therein to a foreign country or place included such country or place as may be specified in the Order; and
b
the diplomatic ranks specified in that section included such ranks of any United Kingdom mission in a country specified in the Order as may be so specified in relation to that country.
4
In this section “diplomatic agent” has the same meaning as in the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and “international will” has the meaning assigned to it by section 27 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982.
S. 10(1)(c) and “or” preceding it added (prosp.) by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 116:5), ss. 28(7)(a), 76(5)(6)
1889 c. 10.
1964 c. 81.
Words added (prosp.) by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 116:5), ss. 28(7)(b), 76(5)(6)