A Notary Is Not A Lawyer
A.R.S. 41-273 — no notario, no legal advice, and the statement every advertisement carries
In Arizona, a commission as a notary public does not authorize an individual to assist persons in drafting legal records, give legal advice or otherwise practice law, to act as an immigration consultant or an expert on immigration matters, to represent a person in a judicial or administrative proceeding relating to immigration to the United States, United States citizenship or related matters, or to receive compensation for any of those activities.
The term itself. A notary public, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in Arizona, may not use the term notario or notario publico, and may not advertise or represent that the notary may assist persons in drafting legal records, give legal advice or otherwise practice law. No notary public may engage in false or deceptive advertising.
The statement. A notary who is not an attorney licensed in Arizona and who in any manner advertises or represents offering notarial services, orally or in a record, including broadcast media, print media and the internet, includes this statement, or one the secretary of state authorizes or requires, prominently and in each language used: I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities. Where the form of the advertisement leaves no room for it, the statement is displayed prominently or provided at the place of the notarial act before the act is performed.
The original record. Except as otherwise allowed by law, a notary public may not withhold access to or possession of an original record provided by a person that seeks performance of a notarial act.
| The conduct | What it carries |
|---|---|
| The conductA notary who is not a licensed Arizona attorney performs an activity the commission does not authorize, or otherwise performs the unauthorized practice of immigration and nationality law | What it carriesA civil penalty of not more than $1,000 imposed by the secretary of state, and permanent revocation of the commission |
| The conductBreaking the rule on advertising and the required statement | What it carriesA class 6 felony, and permanent revocation of the commission |
How a notary is commissioned in Arizona, what a notarial act requires, remote notarization, and the fees a notary may charge are set elsewhere and are not on this page. Nor does this page cover who may lawfully assist with an immigration matter, which is a federal question with its own accreditation system. Whether a particular person's help crossed the line is a question for a licensed Arizona attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- A.R.S. 41-273 — Prohibited acts; civil penalty; violation; classification
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.