A Notary Is Not A Lawyer

In much of Latin America a notario publico is a trained lawyer holding a public office with real legal authority. In Missouri 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 Missouri has written that difference into the statute rather than leaving it to be discovered.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.680

No claimed powers. A notary may not claim powers, qualifications, rights or privileges that the notary chapter does not provide, including the power to counsel on immigration issues.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.680

The statement. A notary who is not an attorney and advertises notarial services in a language other than English includes in the advertisement, notice, letterhead or sign, prominently displayed in the same language, the statement I am not an attorney and have no authority to give advice on immigration or other legal matters, together with the fees for notarial acts set by statute.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.680

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.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.680

How a notary is commissioned in Missouri, 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 Missouri attorney.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.680