A recent article in NorthJersey.com (Friday, March 2, 2018) alerted the community to a threat by notaries and other unauthorized legal services that is becoming more prevalent.
In Latin America, “notarios” are trained and authorized to handle legal matters. In the US all a notary can do is witness and sign documents. They cannot give legal advice and the most they can charge is a few dollars.
The article cites Casa Freehold director Rita Dentino as saying that the distinction is not always clear to immigrants. Some set up shop in travel agencies or other shops offering immigration services of various kinds for cash.
Lazaro Cardenas, deputy director of the Latino Coalition of New Jersey, is quoted as saying that people who participated in the Coalition’s recent legal clinics for DACA recipients complained of receiving improper services from “notarios”. Here are some tips for avoiding such unauthorized practices.
NOTARIES ARE NOT IMMIGRATION EXPERTS. Members of the immigrant community must be cautioned about the different roles “notarios” can play in Latin America, and the role of notaries in the U.S. People needing such services must find credible lawyers by searching databases of groups like the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
ALWAYS ASK FOR COPIES. Lawyers are required to return a former client’s files on request. Notaries are also required to return a former client’s files
RECEIPTS. Lawyers and other certified immigration experts should be willing to accept checks for their services, or provide receipts. These could be useful if you need to file an ethics complaint about the way a case was handled.
WHERE TO GET HELP. The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs accepts complaints of “notary fraud” on its web site (njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/file-a-complaint) or by calling 973-504-6200.