Some people automatically assume that notary publics have the legal capacity to translate documents written or otherwise created in a foreign language. However, this is somewhat of a gray area that varies depending on the type of translation and whether or not a signature on the document requires notarization. So before you head out to the nearest notary public in search of a translation, you should familiarize yourself with the rules regarding notary translations.
Many people assume that “notarization” and “attestation” refer to the same act.
That’s not quite the case.
While only a state-commissioned public notary can perform a notarization, anyone can perform an attestation. Read more to learn the subtle differences between the two legal terms.