A Notary Is Not A Lawyer
G.S. 10B-20 — no immigration consultant title, and no help choosing or understanding the record
In much of Latin America a notario publico is a trained lawyer holding a public office with real legal authority. In North Carolina 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 North Carolina reaches the mismatch through the titles a notary may claim and the notice an advertisement carries.
No immigration consultant. A notary public who is not an attorney licensed in North Carolina is prohibited from representing or advertising that the notary is an immigration consultant or an expert on immigration matters, unless the notary is an accredited representative of an organization recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- A nonattorney notary may not render any service that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.
- A nonattorney notary may not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting or understanding a record or transaction requiring a notarial act.
- Where certificate wording is not provided for a record, a notary who is not also a licensed attorney does not determine the type of notarial act or certificate to be used.
- A notary may not claim powers, qualifications, rights or privileges the office does not provide, including the power to counsel on immigration matters.
The notice. A notary who is not a licensed North Carolina attorney and advertises notary services in a language other than English, by radio, television, signs, pamphlets, newspapers, other written communication or any other manner, includes a notice in English and in the language of the advertisement. If written, it is of conspicuous size, and it states: I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 10B-20 — Powers and limitations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.