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News & Publications

Watch Out For 'Notarios' Offering Bad Tax, Immigration Advice

National Notary Association March 28, 2013

 

Notarios Publicosin many Hispanic nations are highly trained legal professionals, unlike Notaries in the U.S., who are state-commissioned officials with narrow witnessing duties and much less discretion. But many unscrupulous individuals pose as Notarios and falsely claim to be attorneys or legal consultants to take advantage of immigrants. Notarios commonly charge exorbitant fees for worthless legal advice, often leaving immigrant clients facing deportation and other legal problems without their knowledge. Many states strictly prohibit Notaries from advertising using the title “Notario Publico” or other foreign-language translations of “Notary Public” in order to protect immigrants from scams.

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The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service have been leading a nationwide campaign to crack down on the unauthorized practice of immigration law and are encouraging people to report any taking advantage of immigrants via the FTC’s online complaint system.



Notaries should always follow state laws regarding foreign-language advertising and never offer unauthorized advice on immigration matters.

The National Notary Association provides a detailed explanation of the differences between U.S. Notaries and Notarios as well as links to federal resources. Notaries can help consumers by providing the NNA’s “What Is A Notary Public” brochure to interested parties.

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NNA, Nevada AG Masto Present Scholarship Donation To Women's Research Institute of Nevada

National Notary Association March 21, 2013​

 

“Attorney General Masto has shown unwavering dedication to remedying a nationwide crisis that has mortgage servicers rethinking their approach to the supervision and training of Notaries,” said Anderson. “In doing so, she has emerged as a beacon of strength and national leadership.”

The March Fong Eu Achievement Award is given to an individual who has made a substantial effort to improve the standards, image and quality of the office of the Notary Public. AG Masto was recognized for her dedication to protecting homeowners and consumers nationwide, and for acting as a model of conduct in the midst of the foreclosure crisis.

Read about this year’s March Fong Eu Achievement Award winner in the May issue of The National Notary magazine.

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