Notary Public, Apostilles & Translations

No, and it helps to know before you come in. In Mexico and much of Latin America, a notario is a licensed attorney who drafts documents and gives legal advice. In Illinois, a notary public is not that. Ours is not an attorney, and the law does not allow a notary public to draft your documents or give you legal advice: the job is to confirm who you are and witness your signature.

If you found this page looking for a notario in Chicago, think about what you need. If your document is ready and only your signature needs to be certified, we do that right here, walk-in. If you need someone to draft your document or advise you on your situation, what you need is an attorney, and we will tell you so honestly.

We have a notary public on site for your personal and business documents, including:

• Power of attorney
• Travel consent letters for minors
• Power of attorney for deeds
• Contracts
• Affidavits
• Apostilles
• Certified translations

We also help you write and clean up everyday letters, such as an employment letter, a reference letter or a letter of support, using the facts and words of the person who signs it. The signer reviews it before signing, and if the recipient wants it notarized, our notary public certifies the signature, not what the letter says. Letters to the IRS are different: with your authorization, our Enrolled Agent can write to the IRS on your behalf. A letter for an immigration or court case is a job for an attorney.

Which letters we help with, what to bring, and when a letter needs an attorney (in Spanish)

We take your passport photos with the size, background and framing the authorities require, so they will not be rejected and you get your paperwork done the first time.

To speed up your notarization, have this ready:

• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID
• Do not sign or date the document beforehand: some must be signed in front of the notary
• Bring all pages, not just the signature page
• Make sure the document is complete

A notary public certifies signatures but cannot give you legal advice or help you prepare or interpret legal documents. For that, consult an attorney.