A Notary Is Not A Lawyer
Fla. Stat. 117.05 — no notario in the advertisement, and a notice in English beside any other language
In much of Latin America a notario publico is a trained lawyer holding a public office with real legal authority. In Florida 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 Florida has written that difference into the statute rather than leaving it to be discovered.
The words themselves. A notary public who is not authorized to represent a person in an immigration matter may not, when advertising notary public services, use the terms notario público, notario, immigration assistant, immigration consultant or immigration specialist, or any other designation or title, in any language, that conveys or implies professional legal skills in immigration law.
Literal translation. Translating the phrase Notary Public literally into a language other than English is prohibited in an advertisement for notarial services.
The notice. A notary public who is not an attorney and advertises notary services in a language other than English, by radio, television, signs, pamphlets, newspapers or other written communication, apart from a single desk plaque, includes a notice in English and in the language of the advertisement. If written, it is of a conspicuous size, and it states: I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
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 Florida, 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 Florida attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fla. Stat. 117.05 — Use of notary commission; unlawful use; notary fee; seal; duties; employer liability; name change; advertising; photocopies; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.