TAMPA, Fla. — Notary services can be necessary, especially when filling out legal documents.
In Hillsborough County, one woman said she wants to make sure the Spanish-speaking community has access to those services.
Sara Roman is the founder of Notary Kiosk in downtown Tampa and is hoping to fill a gap for Spanish speakers.
It’s all about making connections for Roman. For years, she has been heavily involved in the Hispanic community, serving as a notary since 2011.
“Just the experience of assisting the Latino community, It was like a start for me to learn other services,” she said.
Sensing the demand, Roman opened her own notary business. Right now, the kiosk is stationed downtown, but it will soon roll out into the community at consulates and neighborhoods.
She said some Latinos she has encountered need technical assistance and sometimes aren’t sure how to properly handle legal documents.
“You know, in my mind, I wanted to have a mobile office where I can assist clients and connect them and be a tool so they could complete their personal and business transactions,” Roman said.
Her notary kiosk not only offers notary services, but helps make copies and scans of documents, explains how to set up court hearings via Zoom, assists with Spanish interpretation services and more.
“We just want to be a tool or a bridge that will connect gaps, so anybody that comes here, if I don’t know the answer, at least I can give you some directions,” she said.
Roman said many immigrants need help protecting their documents. So she is educating the Spanish-speaking community so that they can feel empowered.
“It’s something that will be helping them in the future,” she said.
Making sure to dot the “I’s” and cross the “T’s,” so that critical paperwork can be processed efficiently.
The notary kiosk is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also offers virtual notary sessions as well. It is located at 946 E. Twiggs St.
