Absolutely correct but, were I a lawyer, I would totally avoid a situation like that because I firmly believe that mixing business with family or friends is a bad idea. A situation like that can produce results that affect family dynamics for years or even permanently. That’s me, though, so it’s just my very personal option. I’m not offering it as a rule everyone should follow.
That is a good way to approach it. It’s all fine on day one when you want to help your nephew out of a jam, but when things go to shit and his whole family thinks it’s your fault, you’re going to wish you referred him to a lawyer down the block.
Another reason for a lawyer NOT to represent a relative in a criminal case is because they have no idea how the case could develop and end up bringing OTHER relatives into the mix which definitely could result in a conflict of interest.
For example, if I was representing my cousin in court and it turns my own father was a witness to the alleged crime --how could expected to remain impartial enough to cross examine my father effectively to help my cousin?
It is best just to AVOID such scenarios all together and NOT represent a relative.
yes, I wouldn’t expect there to be a problem with a relative representing me for something like that. I would never ask a relative to represent me in a divorce, or or a lawsuit.
And I used to ask my doctor dad for medical advice, as did my siblings. Sometimes he’d suggest a treatment. Rarely, he gave me a prescription drug. Anything at all complicated, he’d say, “yes, you should see your doctor about that.” Once he told my brother, “you have appendicitis, go to the emergency room ASAP.” So, you know, he did diagnose it 
Most of the drugs he used to proscribe for me are now OTC, by the way. Or have been replaced by effective OTC drugs that weren’t on the market back then.
I text my daughter’s husband (an MD) medical questions from time to time, but only because we’ve talked about it and he has assured me he is cool with it.
When he first told me it was fine to ask, we were a bit tipsy on xmas eve and I (jokingly) started talking about prostate stuff. Poor guy looked like he might get sick, so I didn’t leave him hanging.
Huh. My dad would have been fine talking about prostate stuff. But he was a gastroenterologist. He sometimes did radio call-in shows where he’d end up spending an hour on the air talking about farts. Excuse me, flatulence.
notarizing for family is exactly the same as legally representing them. While generally not expressly prohibited, it is discouraged because it can create the potential for a challenge based on a conflict of interest. It’s not the best idea.
My SIL wasn’t averse to discussing my prostate, the idea of an exam was the issue.
lol. I don’t even ask my general practitioner doctor to do my gyn exam, because we have a social relationship. I either go to one of his nurse practitioners, or to a gynecologist, depending.