The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word NOTARIES
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
N
O
T
A
R
I
E
S
More clues leading to the result NOTARIES
- Satire on corrupt public officials
- Legal officials leaving out first sign
- Never house officials
- Senorita troubled officials
- Their job is to certify, not sign
- Their job is to administer oaths, not sign
- They do work that’s legal, like about 92% of the population
- Doctor, irate, embraced by boy going west with certifying officials
- Legal authorities excluding one sign
- Clerks sign below brief memo
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "officials" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case officials = notaries.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does NOTARIES mean?
NOTARIES noun- A lawyer of noncontentious private civil law who drafts, takes, and records legal instruments for private parties, and provides legal advice, but does not appear in court on clients' behalf.
- (common law) A notary public, a legal practitioner who prepares, attests to, and certifies documents, witnesses affidavits, and administers oaths.
- A lay notary public, who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, but who is not authorised to practise law.