Protect your family · California rules
A notario is not a lawyer: who can legally help with your papers in California
Every year families lose money and time to people who promise more than the law allows. Here is who can prepare your divorce or immigration papers, and how to check them in two minutes.
Can a notario prepare my divorce or immigration papers?
No. In the United States a notary public only verifies identities and signatures; a notary cannot give legal advice or prepare your court or immigration case. In California, the people who may help are an attorney, a DOJ-accredited representative, a registered and bonded Legal Document Assistant (for court and legal documents, without legal advice), and a registered and bonded immigration consultant (for USCIS forms, without legal advice). California law forbids a non-attorney from translating “notary public” into Spanish as “notario público” or “notario.”
Who can help, and how to verify them
| Provider | Prepares your papers? Court or USCIS forms | Legal advice? Strategy, eligibility | How to verify Free public lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | Yes | Yes | State Bar of California attorney search |
| DOJ-accredited representative | Yes, immigration | Yes, immigration, through a recognized nonprofit | EOIR roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives |
| Legal Document Assistant (LDA) | Yes, at your direction | No | County Clerk-Recorder where registered (Santa Clara County for EMS, LDA #269) |
| Immigration consultant | Yes, USCIS forms with the information you provide | No | California Secretary of State immigration consultant search |
| Notary public (“notario”) | No | No | California Secretary of State notary search |
Eight red flags of notario fraud
- They call themselves “notario,” “licenciado” or “abogado” but cannot show a State Bar number.
- They promise approval, a green card, a work permit or a fast divorce.
- They tell you which immigration benefit to apply for, without being an attorney or accredited representative.
- They ask you to sign blank or incomplete forms.
- They keep your original documents, or will not give you copies of what they filed.
- They will not give you a written contract with each service and its price.
- They ask you to lie or leave something out of a form.
- They cannot show a county LDA registration or a Secretary of State immigration consultant registration.
What California law requires
- No “notario” translation. A notary who is not an attorney may not translate “notary public” into Spanish as “notario público” or “notario” (Government Code §8219.5; Business and Professions Code §6126.7).
- Immigration consultants. Must post a bond with the Secretary of State, give you a written contract and disclosure in your language, state in every ad that they are not an attorney, and give you copies of the documents they prepare (Business and Professions Code §22440 and following).
- Legal Document Assistants. Must register and post a bond with the county where they do business, and may only prepare documents at your direction, without legal advice (Business and Professions Code §6400 and following).
Registered, bonded, and honest about the limits
Rosa Gafare is a registered and bonded Legal Document Assistant (LDA #269, Santa Clara County) and a registered immigration consultant with the California Secretary of State. She is not an attorney. You receive a written contract before any work begins, copies of everything prepared for you, and a plain answer when your case needs an attorney. Verify both registrations before you hire anyone, including us.
Notarios, LDAs and immigration consultants
Can a notary public help me with immigration forms?
Only if the notary is also registered and bonded as an immigration consultant, and even then they cannot give legal advice. A notary commission alone does not allow anyone to fill out immigration forms for clients in California.
What is the difference between a notario in Mexico and a notary in the U.S.?
In Mexico and many Latin American countries a notario público is a lawyer with special training. In the United States a notary public only verifies identities and signatures and is not a lawyer.
How do I verify a Legal Document Assistant?
Ask for the registration number and county, then check with that county’s Clerk-Recorder. Expert Multi-Services is registered as LDA #269 in Santa Clara County.
Where can I report notario fraud?
You can report it to the California Attorney General, your county District Attorney, and the State Bar of California. USCIS also explains how to recognize and report immigration scams.
Can Expert Multi-Services tell me which immigration form to file?
No. Choosing an immigration benefit is legal advice. If you already know what you are applying for, Rosa prepares the forms with the information you provide; if you do not, see an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative first.
Work with someone you can verify
Walk in Monday–Friday, 10 AM–6 PM, at 434 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, or book online. Se habla español.
Expert Multi-Services Inc. is a registered and bonded Legal Document Assistant (LDA #269, Santa Clara County) and a registered immigration consultant. We are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. We prepare documents at your direction.