Worshipful Company of Scriveners
| Location | c/o HQS Wellington, London WC2 |
|---|---|
| Date of formation | 1373 |
| Company association | Legal services, calligraphy, heraldry |
| Order of precedence | 44th |
| Master of company | Miss Julia Hett |
| Motto | Scribite Scientes |
| Website | www.scriveners.org.uk |
The Worshipful Company of Scriveners is one of the 110 Livery Companies of the City of London. The Scriveners Company was originally known as the Mysterie of the Writers of the Court Letter. It is one of the few livery companies that from its foundation to the present day has been influential in setting the standards for a living profession, namely that of Scrivener Notary. The Company's first Ordinances were granted in 1373. Its Royal Charter was granted by King James I in 1617.
Historically, Scrivener Notaries were the only Notaries Public permitted to practise in the City of London, the Liberties of Westminster, The Borough (Southwark), and other places within three miles from the City. In 1801, Parliament passed the Public Notaries Act that confirmed this status.
Scrivener Notaries are only appointed after a two-year apprenticeship to a practising Scrivener Notary and sitting the examinations set by the Company. They must be fluent in one or two foreign languages and be familiar with the principles and practice of foreign laws. The ancient privilege of Scrivener Notaries was extinguished by the Access to Justice Act (1999), since when any Notary Public qualified to practise in England and Wales may practise within the Company's former exclusive jurisdiction. Nonetheless, they remain a discrete branch of the profession and their unique status is recognised in civil-law countries by their membership in the International Union of Notaries (UINL). Current qualification rules were adopted by the Court of the Company in 1998
In addition to the Scrivener Notaries, the membership of the Company comprises those with qualifications and interests in the fields of calligraphy, heraldry, genealogy, wider aspects of the law, authorship, accountancy, and business.
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