Which of the following is prohibited for a Georgia notary who is not an attorney regarding advertising?

• A. Advertising as a legal consultant or expert on legal matters.
• B. Advertising their notary services anywhere.
• C. Advertising only in English.
• D. Advertising without a business license.

Answer: (A)

Notaries public who are not attorneys may not present themselves as legal experts or offer legal advice. Advertising as a legal consultant or expert on legal matters crosses that line into practicing law, which only licensed attorneys may do. The public could be misled into thinking the notary provides legal counsel, which is outside the scope of notarial duties and qualifications. That distinction is exactly why this form of advertising is prohibited.

Notaries can advertise their notary services themselves, which merely informs people that they can perform notarial acts such as acknowledgments, oaths, or jurats. Language or format choices (like advertising in English or another language) aren’t the issue, nor is advertising without a business license in and of itself within the notary advertising rules examined here; the critical point is not to present oneself as a legal advisor.