Absolutely.
Can I notarize a document for a Spanish-speaking person, if Spanish is the language they will be speaking?
Absolutely. If you speak and understand Spanish.
Can I notarize a document for a Spanish-speaking person, if Spanish is the language they will be speaking, but I don't know Spanish?
No!
At least not according to Colorado Notary Law.
I received a call today from a woman who wanted me to notarize a document for her mother. No problem. Let's make an appointment. Then she told me that her mother only speaks Spanish, but that she could interpret for her mother.
Sorry. I told her that she would have to find a Spanish-speaking notary. It doesn't matter if she is interpreting for her mother. I must be able to communicate with her mother directly.
According to the Colorado Notary Law Primer:
"Under no circumstances should a notarization be performed if the Notary and the principal signer cannot communicate in the same language."
I do perform notarizations on documents in a foreign language. Mostly German, because that is the language I know. But I have notarized a document in Russian. However, the person requesting the notarization for the Russian document was able to communicate in English. That is the difference.
Hopefully this woman is able to find a Spanish-speaking notary. Once I get through this Rosetta Stone course in Spanish, then I'll be able to serve her in the future.
California law is similar. We can notarize documents in a foreign language, that we don't understand, if the document appears to be complete, but only if we can directly communicate with the signer. An interpreter for the signer may not be used.