If we have a client who has a document in another language that we cannot understand and/or verify, do we still proceed with notarizing if they can tell us what type of Notary they need, or do we decline completing the notarization? — J. C., Washington
You may notarize the document in another language. Below, we have listed the guidance provided by your state's Notary Public Guide:
Foreign-Language Documents
“There is nothing in state law that forbids a notary public from notarizing a document written in a foreign language”.
“A notary is generally not responsible for confirming the contents of a document (outside of certifying a copy, but that has unique standards), however, they do need to make sure the correct notarial certificate is on the document. As of July 1, 2018, all notarial certificates must either be in English, or in dual languages where one of the languages is English, so the notary should be able to identify the certificate on a document being notarized” (NPG).
For information and guidance on notarizing foreign-language documents in other states, please see our article, “3 questions to ask before you notarize a foreign-language document.”
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline consultants to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.