Coffee addict……………
your advice is not correct.
I’m an attorney. I handle name changes in Probate Court in CT, and have in Surrogates Court in NY. There is nothing you need a notary public for except to notarize your signature, and that verification can be done by other officials.
In fact in CT, EVERY lawyer is an officer of the court and can authenticate that a document is being signed by the person who is who he/she says he/she is.
Most Notaries Public do little more than authenticate the validity of a signature, or that someone is affirming a statement as their free act and deed.
Power varies by state. In Florida, a notary can perform marriages.