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Are notary public lawyers?

Suave Notary - Sep 15 2021


No.

Maybe in other countries the translation of notary public would imply one has been licensed to practice law, however in the US, there are notary publics and there are lawyers/attorneys. They are different. Notary public's have rather little legal authority and are best served as a trusted witness whereas an attorney has been licensed to practice law.

If an unlicensed individual were to practice law it is considered unauthorized practice of law (UPL) which is very likely to be illegal within their state. This applies whether one is a notary public or a governor.

However, there is a scenario where one is both an attorney and a notary public. This would allow the notary public who has been authorized to practice law to give legal advice and recommend how someone should interpret a document. Often lawyers are notary publics though may choose not to advertise this or preform the functions of a notary public (which depends per state).


This document is a reflection of the authors opinion and should not constituted as an authoritative source on this topic: consult an attorney who has been licensed to practice law.