Maryland · Notario fraud
Notario fraud in Maryland
If a non-lawyer took your money in Maryland — under the guise of notario fraud — Maryland law is on your side. Here's how the claim works.
Reviewed July 2026 by the FakeLawyerReport editorial team
Why this is illegal in Maryland
A U.S. 'notario' is not a lawyer. When they charge for immigration or legal work, it's a crime — and every dollar you paid is recoverable, plus damages.
Maryland's UPL statute: Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §§ 10-101, 10-601 to -606
Maryland bars anyone not admitted to the Maryland Bar from practicing law or holding themselves out as authorized to do so. The AG's Consumer Protection Division regularly prosecutes immigration-related UPL.
Penalties in Maryland
Misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000 for a first offense; up to 5 years and $10,000 for repeats), plus civil penalties.
What you can recover
- A full refund of every dollar you paid.
- Statutory or civil damages under Maryland's consumer-protection laws.
- Attorneys' fees in most cases — often no out-of-pocket cost.
- Referral to a licensed Maryland attorney to try to fix the underlying case.
How to report notario fraud in Maryland
- File with Maryland Judiciary — Attorney Listing — the state bar's UPL committee.
- File a consumer complaint with the Maryland Attorney General.
- Submit your case on this site for a free confidential review with a licensed Maryland attorney who handles UPL recovery.
Related resources
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