The Difference between Notary Public & Notario Publico

One significant inquiry I've received from clients during my current time as a licensed Notary: is a notary public and notario publico the same thing? The answer, simply put - in theory, is.....yes and no. It may be confusing, but I'll explain.

A notario publico is effectively translated to mean "notary public". Essentially, they perform the same important functions as a notary public, which include (but are not limited to) signature witnessing & effectively administering the proper signing and affirmation of various documents brought by signee(s)/additional parties. A notario publico is held to the same standards as a notary public: thoroughly screened for integrity, character, and most importantly, criminal history. Furthermore, notario publico are designated to serve the public as efficiently as possible, similar to a notary public. A notario publico possesses and carries the same equipment needed to perform signings - once again, similar to a notary public.

Now, you may ask yourself, you just gave four similarities between the two, but where are the differences?

The stark difference between a notary public and a notario publico is.....geographical. Geographical? Yes, geographical.

A notario publico, unlike a notary public, is specifically licensed in mainly Latin countries and those who carry the title are essentially lawyers in those areas, and can represent citizens in court, effectively, without a law degree. Yes - notario publicos require no law degree, depending on the country itself. According to the American Association of Notaries, a notario publico in Mexico requires the prospective applicant to have been a born citizen of the country, practice law for a minimum of five ("5") years, and must pass a grueling technical examination that demonstrates the applicant's ability to carry out the duties of the office. Lastly, the applicant must then be personally appointed by the President. Additionally, a notario publico is only appointed depending on the census of Mexico, meaning, they are appointed as the population meets a certain threshold.

On the other spectrum, a notary public in the United States only needs to be a resident of a certain state within the U.S., fill an online notary application, pay fees, and take the notary oath at their respective county office. Not a lot of requirements, compared to Mexico. 

I could further expound upon the differences between a notary and a notary publico, but the main distinction is their location. 

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For more information on this specific topic, please refer to this article by the American Association of Notaries:

https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/articles/what-is-a-notario-publico/