What is the difference between lawyer and notary?
Asked by: Teresa Kshlerin | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (2 votes)
A lawyer provides comprehensive legal advice, drafts complex documents, and represents clients in court, while a notary public is an impartial official who witnesses signatures, verifies identities, and certifies documents to prevent fraud, but cannot give legal advice or represent you in court, although many lawyers are also notaries. Think of a lawyer as your legal advocate and advisor, and a notary as a document authenticator for simple transactions like affidavits or powers of attorney.
Are notary and attorney the same?
The main difference between a notary public and a lawyer is that a lawyer can represent their clients in court proceedings while a notary can't. A notary public is trained to serve as an official or legal witness to the execution of contracts, wills, agreements, oaths, affidavits, and other legal documents.
Is a lawyer a notary?
While some attorneys may also be notaries, it is not a universal requirement for attorneys to hold notary public commissions. Whether or not an attorney can notarize your documents depends on their qualifications and whether they are authorized as a notary public in your jurisdiction.
What is the most common mistake made by a notary?
The most common and serious mistake a notary makes is failing to ensure the signer personally appears before them, which is a legal violation and can lead to fraud and major penalties, but other frequent errors involve incomplete or incorrect notarial certificates, such as missing dates, improper seal placement, illegible stamps, mismatched names, or attaching the wrong certificate type, all of which can invalidate the document.
Which is more powerful, a lawyer or an attorney?
An attorney has more specific authority than a general lawyer because an attorney is licensed to practice law and represent clients in court, while a lawyer, though educated in law, might not have passed the bar exam to gain that courtroom authority. It's not about "power" but legal authorization; all attorneys are lawyers (having law degrees), but not all lawyers are attorneys. For court appearances, you need an attorney; for legal advice or document prep, a lawyer might suffice.
Notary Public vs Attorney
Should I get a lawyer or an attorney?
You need a lawyer (specifically an attorney) for serious legal matters like lawsuits, criminal charges, divorce, serious accidents, or complex contracts, where their license allows them to represent you in court, negotiate, and provide official advice; you might not need one for simple tasks, but generally, if you're facing potential big losses or complexities, getting prompt legal help from a licensed professional is wise. "Lawyer" is a general term, but an "attorney" is licensed to practice law and act as your advocate in court.
Is Kim Kardashian a lawyer or attorney?
No, Kim Kardashian is not yet a lawyer or attorney; she is still working towards passing the California Bar Exam, having recently failed it again in late 2025, despite completing her legal studies through an apprenticeship program and passing the \"baby bar\" in 2021. She consistently expresses her commitment to becoming a licensed attorney, viewing her setbacks as motivation to keep studying for the full bar exam.
Does a notarized will hold up in court?
Benefits of having a notarized Will
Reduces contestability: A notarized Will is much harder to challenge in court because the notary serves as an additional witness to your mental capacity and the authenticity of your signature.
Do Notaries get sued a lot?
It's not unusual for a Notary to be named in a lawsuit simply because plaintiffs are obligated to cast a wide net. In other words, the civil process is “Sue first, ask questions later.” And even with the best outcome, being sued is incredibly disruptive.
What is the downside of being a notary?
A mistake could result in a lawsuit
Notaries may also have to deal with different forms of documentation and people, which may cause confusion and increase the chances of making a mistake that could result in a lawsuit.
Can a notary represent you in court?
A notary cannot represent you in court, draft legal documents, or offer advice on specific legal issues. Relying on a notary for legal matters can result in inadequate advice and ultimately harm your legal rights. In some cases, notaries posing as legal professionals have led to problematic practices.
Which type of notary makes the most money?
The type of notary that generally makes the most money is a Notary Signing Agent (NSA), specializing in real estate loan documents, earning $75-$200 per complex signing, followed by Mobile Notaries who charge travel fees and specialized Remote Online Notaries (RONs), but NSAs have the highest potential due to the volume and complexity of mortgage signings, with some reaching six figures annually with experience, high-level marketing, and handling various loan packages (purchases, refinances, HELOCs).
Who can legally notarize?
In the United States, all notarial acts must be performed by an actively commissioned notary public. A notary public is any individual who has received special authorization to certify document signatures from the state in which they operate.
What's higher than a notary?
Finally, Medallion Signature Guarantees are typically more expensive than Notary services. This is because the financial institution providing the guarantee assumes liability for the transaction and must have insurance to cover any losses.
What is a person called who can notarize?
A notary is an impartial witness authorized by the state to perform certain legal functions, including the verification of identities, administration of oaths and certification of documents. Their primary purpose is to help prevent fraud and ensure that legal documents are executed properly.
What is the highest level of attorney?
The highest positions for lawyers vary by setting, but within a law firm, it's typically a Managing Partner or Senior Partner, who owns part of the firm and guides strategy. In a corporation, the top role is often the General Counsel, leading the in-house legal team. More broadly, the highest legal office in a country, like the U.S. Attorney General, or becoming a top judge, such as a Supreme Court Justice, are also pinnacle achievements.
How much do notaries usually charge?
Average notary fees vary by state, but typically range from $5 to $15 per signature/act, with many states setting maximums like $10-$15 for basic services (acknowledgments, oaths) and higher for Remote Online Notarization (RON), often around $25, plus potential travel fees for mobile services, with overall mobile appointments costing more due to convenience.
What mistakes can a notary make?
Forgetting to date the notarial certificate or using an incorrect date can render the notarization invalid. For example, when you take an acknowledgment, the signer may have signed and dated the document at an earlier date, but you should date the notarial certificate when you actually took the acknowledgement.
Can you live off being a notary?
Not every NSA or mobile Notary wants to make it a full-time career. In fact, more than 61 percent notarize as a part-time gig. But even part-timers report they are doing well, reporting earnings ranging from anywhere as low as a few hundred dollars to $20,000 a month from notarizations.
When can a notary refuse?
Improper or Missing Identification
One of the most common reasons a notary may refuse to proceed is invalid identification. California law requires that the signer present a valid, government-issued ID that includes: A photo. A signature. A physical description.
What is the biggest mistake with wills?
“The biggest mistake people have when it comes to doing wills or estate plans is their failure to update those documents. There are certain life events that require the documents to be updated, such as marriage, divorce, births of children.
Who needs to be present to notarize a will?
2. Does a Will Need to Be Notarized in California? In California, a will does not have to be notarized to be legally valid. Instead, it must be signed by the testator (the person making the will) and witnessed by two adults who are not beneficiaries.
Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?
No, passing the California "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a hurdle for non-traditional law students to continue their studies, allowing them to sit for the actual California Bar Exam, which, along with character and fitness, is required to become a licensed attorney. You must pass the full California Bar Exam, which tests more subjects, and meet other requirements before you can practice law and call yourself a lawyer.
How many times did Kim Kardashian fail her law exam?
Before she could apprentice, instead of attending a traditional law school, Kardashian said she failed the required “baby bar” exam three times. The argument goes that this demonstrates she is not temperamentally or intellectually suited to be a lawyer. (She did pass it on her fourth attempt.)
Do any of the Kardashians have a degree?
Yes, several Kardashians went to college: Kourtney graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Theater Arts and Spanish, Rob graduated from USC with a business degree, and while Kim didn't finish a traditional bachelor's degree, she recently completed a legal apprenticeship and passed the baby bar. Khloé did not attend college, and Kylie and Kendall focused on their careers after high school.