A Notary Is Not A Lawyer
Gov. Code 8219.5 — the literal translation is prohibited, and the notice goes up in two languages
In much of Latin America a notario publico is a trained lawyer holding a public office with real legal authority. In California a notary public holds a commission, not a law license. The words look the same across the two systems and mean very different things, and California has written that difference into the statute rather than leaving it to be discovered.
Literal translation. Literal translation of the phrase notary public into Spanish, which the statute defines as notario publico or notario, is prohibited. A literal translation is one made without regard to the true meaning of the words in the language being translated.
The notice. A notary public who is not an attorney and advertises notary services in a language other than English by signs or other written communication, apart from a single desk plaque, posts with the advertisement a notice in English and in the other language setting out the statement I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matters, and the fees set by statute that a notary public may charge.
What it carries. The Secretary of State suspends for not less than one year, or revokes, the commission of a notary public who fails to comply with the notice or the translation rule. On a second offense the commission is revoked permanently.
The practical shape of it is narrow. A notary confirms who signed and that they signed. A notary does not decide whether the document is the right document, whether it says what it needs to say, or whether signing it is sound. A notarized signature on a bad form is a witnessed signature on a bad form.
How a notary is commissioned in California, 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 California attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Gov. Code 8219.5 — Notary advertising in a language other than English; literal translation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.