How to Become a Notary in Maryland

How do I renew my notary commission in Maryland?

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To renew your Maryland notary commission, follow the same steps you took when you applied to become a notary the first time. However, renewing notaries are not required to take the notary examination and are not required to provide three character references who can be contacted to attest to their character. You can renew your notary commission sixty days before your current notary commission expires or thirty days after your commission expires. If you fail to renew thirty days after your notary commission expiration date, you will have to apply for a new notary commission.

To apply for reappointment as a notary public, go to the Maryland Secretary of State's website at https://mdsos2.my.site.com/s/notary-renewal-flow.

Who appoints notaries in Maryland?

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In Maryland, an individual who wishes to be commissioned as a notary public must complete an application on the Office of the Secretary of State’s website. After a notary application is submitted to the secretary of state, it then goes to the state senator of the applicant's senatorial district. If the senator approves the application, it is returned to the secretary of state, and appointment will be made upon approval of the governor.

Maryland Secretary of State
Notary Division, State House
16 Francis Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone Number: 410-974-5521
Fax Number: 410-974-5190
Email: dlnotary_sos@maryland.gov

Can a non-resident of Maryland apply for a commission as a notary public?

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Yes. A non-resident can apply to become a notary public in Maryland, provided the applicant:

1. Has a place of employment or practice in Maryland.
2. Satisfies the same qualifications as a Maryland resident, setting aside the residency requirement.
3. Is a resident of a state that allows Maryland residents working in that state to serve as notaries public in that state.

Note:

• When completing the notary application, if you live outside of the state of Maryland but work in Maryland, you should select the county in Maryland in which your place of employment or practice is located.
• If you do not have a physical work address in Maryland, enter the Maryland county in which you most regularly work when completing the notary application. If you do not have a physical work address in Maryland, provide a written explanation of what you do that qualifies as working in Maryland.
• If you submit an application with an out-of-state address for both your home and work addresses, you will be sent an email asking you to provide proof of working in Maryland. Reply to the email with proof that you work in Maryland, such as a contract, bill, or other document showing that you provide services while at a location in Maryland.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Maryland?

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The commission term of a Maryland notary public is four years. Notaries cannot notarize documents after their notary commissions expire without first renewing their notary commissions with the secretary of state.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Maryland?

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Yes. All new notary applicants must complete a notary course of study and pass a notary examination. However, notaries who are renewing their notary commissions are exempt from taking the notary examination and are only required to complete the notary course of study.

Notaries should register for the notary course of study and notary examination with a notary course and exam provider approved by the secretary of state.

The course of study must include Maryland notary public laws, regulations, ethics, and procedures and cover the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public. Every topic must be fully covered so each participant can comply with the requirements above.

The notary examination must offer each applicant a mix of questions of comparable difficulty sourced from each of the sections in the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public covering laws, regulations, ethics, and procedures.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Maryland?

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The cost to become a notary in Maryland includes:

1. The price of the notary course of study and examination.
2. A $25 application fee for processing your notary application.
3. An $11 clerk of the court’s fee to take your oath of office with the clerk of the circuit court. This fee includes a $10 fee for the notary commission and a $1 registration fee.

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. A Maryland official stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
2. A Maryland notary journal to record the notarial acts you perform. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
3. An errors and omissions insurance policy (optional). This insurance policy is designed to protect you if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Maryland?

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a notary in Maryland or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Maryland notary obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a Maryland notary public.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Maryland?

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No. Maryland does not require you to provide proof of a notary bond in order to become a notary public or to renew your notary public commission.

A notary public is liable to any person for damages that result from their negligence, errors, or omissions. Maryland notaries are encouraged to purchase a notary E&O insurance policy to insure themselves against unintentional mistakes.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Maryland?

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You are required to use an official notary stamp to officiate notarial acts that you perform. You can affix the notary official stamp image to a tangible notarial certificate using an inked stamp or embosser [Md. Code, SG §18-215(b)(1)].

The official stamp of a notary public must include the following information:

• The name of the notary public as it appears on the notary's commission.
• The words “Notary Public.”
• The county (or “City of Baltimore”) in which the notary was commissioned.
• The expiration date of the notary’s commission, unless the expiration date is part of the notarial certificate or affixed to or logically associated with the record being notarized.

The notary official stamp must also be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated.

Note: The Maryland notary statute does not provide information on the ink color, shape, and dimensions of a notary stamp.

The American Association of Notaries offers quality notary stamps and seals at savings of up to 40% compared to the cost of the same products elsewhere. Click here to order your Maryland notary stamp, notary seal, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Maryland notary seal?

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If your stamping device is lost or stolen, you must do the following:

1. Inform the appropriate law-enforcement agency (in the case of theft).
2. Notify the Maryland Secretary of State via email. Your email should include:
   • the name under which you are commissioned;
   • your address;
   • the county in which you are commissioned;
   • the date on which your commission was lost or stolen; and
   • a copy of the police report or the police report number and police department to which you made the report (if applicable).
3. Purchase a new official stamp.

How much can a Maryland notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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Maryland notary fees are set by Md. Code, SG §18-107 and COMAR 01.02.08.02. The maximum allowable fees that a Maryland notary public may charge are as follow:

1. $8 for the performance of a notarial act; or
2. $30 for the performance of a remote notarial act.

Note:

• When a notary public is requested to notarize more than one copy of the same record, where the copy or copies have been signed at the same time by the same person or persons, the notary may demand and receive $8 for notarizing each signature on the original or first copy of the record and may demand and receive $4 for each signature on each additional copy of the same record.
• When a notary public is requested to make reproductions of a notarized record or an entry in the notary’s journal by photocopying or other means, the notary may demand and receive not more than $2 for each copy furnished.
• A notary public may demand and receive reimbursement at the prevailing rate for mileage established by the Internal Revenue Service for business travel and a fee not to exceed $5 for travel if required for the performance of a notarial act. Please visit the Notary Division’s home page for the current mileage rate.
• A notary public may charge $6 for certifying a copy of a record in the notary’s journal.

Is a notary journal required in Maryland?

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Notary journal requirements for traditional notarizations, electronic notarizations, and remote notarizations in Maryland – Maryland notaries are required to maintain notary journals to record their notarial acts. A journal may be maintained in a tangible medium or in an electronic format. A notary public may maintain only one journal at a time to chronicle all notarial acts performed regarding tangible records but may maintain one or more journals to chronicle all notarial acts performed regarding electronic records. If the journal is maintained in a tangible medium, the journal must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, the journal must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format that complies with any regulations adopted by the Maryland Secretary of State.

A notary journal (also known as a register of official acts, record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery or fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Maryland notaries record in their notary journals?

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Maryland notaries performing traditional, electronic, and remote notarizations are required to chronicle in a notary journal the following information:

1. The date and time the notarial act was performed.
2. A description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act.
3. The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
4. If the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
5. If the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, if any, including the date of issuance and expiration and the identification number (e.g. driver’s license number).
6. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public. If no fee is charged, the record should indicate no fee.
7. An indication of whether an individual making a statement or executing a signature that is the subject of the notarial act appeared in the notary public’s physical presence or remotely by means of communication technology.

What steps should I take if my Maryland notary journal is lost or stolen?

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If your tangible or electronic notary journal is lost or stolen, you must notify the Maryland Secretary of State.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

How long should I retain my Maryland notary journal?

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You must retain your notary journal for ten years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the journal.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Maryland?

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Maryland notaries are authorized to perform notarial acts while physically located anywhere within the geographic borders of the state of Maryland. A Maryland notary public is not authorized to act as a notary public in another state or the District of Columbia.

What notarial acts can a Maryland notary public perform?

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A Maryland notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts [Md. Code, SG §18-201(j)(2)]:

1. Taking an acknowledgment
2. Administering an oath or affirmation
3. Taking a verification on oath or affirmation
4. Witnessing or attesting a signature
5. Certifying or attesting a copy
6. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Maryland?

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Maryland law allows the following three types of notarizations:

Traditional notarizations – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked official stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

Electronic notarizations – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary stamp, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote notarizations (also known as remote online notarizations) – There are two types of remote notarizations:

• Remote notarizations on tangible documents (also known as remote “wet ink” notarization) – The signer appears remotely before a remote notary, also known as a remote online notary (RON), via communication technology. This type of notarization requires the signer and the remote notary to send the tangible document to each other and for the notary public to use a physical official stamp to notarize the document without the aid of an electronic official stamp or electronic signature.
• Remote notarizations on electronic documents – The signer appears remotely before a remote notary via communication technology. The notarization can be performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary stamp, an electronic notarial certificate, and the technology of a RON vendor.

What are the steps to register to perform electronic notarizations in Maryland?

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You are not required to receive additional authorization, other than being an active Maryland notary public, to perform electronic notarizations.

What are the steps to become a remote notary in Maryland?

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To become a remote notary, you must:

1. Be currently commissioned as a Maryland notary public.
2. Familiarize yourself with the Maryland Notary Public Handbook. Pay special attention to electronic notarial acts, remote notarial acts requiring a remote online notary vendor, and remote notarial acts for tangible records that do not require a remote online notary vendor.
3. Complete a remote notary notification form on the Maryland Secretary of State’s website. While completing the form online you will be asked to:
   • Indicate if you intend to perform remote notarial acts on electronic records using an authorized remote online notary vendor and/or to perform remote notarial acts on tangible records using other communication technology.
   • Select one or more of the authorized remote online notary vendors if you intend to perform remote notarial acts on electronic documents. Click here to view a list of authorized remote online notary vendors.

If the remote notary notification form is complete and an authorized remote notary online vendor was selected (if applicable), you will receive by email authorization to perform remote notarial acts. This is not a separate license, so you will not receive a separate certificate or commission.

Note: If the remote notary notification form is incomplete, you will receive a notification informing you that you are not authorized to perform remote notarial acts. You will be allowed to re-submit a remote notary notification form to correct the error on the originally submitted remote notary notification form.

For more information on becoming a remote notary in Maryland, visit the Maryland Secretary of State’s website.

How do I update my address on my Maryland notary commission?

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If your home address (or business address if it was provided on the notary application) has changed, you are required within thirty days of the change to notify the secretary of state. To update your address, visit the Maryland Secretary of State’s website and follow the instructions provided.

Note:

• A new stamping device is not required if you have only changed your address, even if the new address is not in the county (or City of Baltimore) where you received your notary commission.
• An updated commission is not issued for a change of address.
• You are required to notify the Office of the Secretary of State within thirty days if, at any time during your notary commission, you change your:
  a. home phone number;
  b. personal email address;
  c. business email address if one was provided at the time of application;
  d. cell phone number if one was provided at the time of application;
  e. business phone number; or
  f. county of residence.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Maryland?

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If your name changes (for example, by marriage), you must notify the secretary of state within thirty days of the change. Click here to update your name with the Maryland Secretary of State. You will be required to choose one of the following options:

• Update your profile without updating your notary commission with your new name - There is no fee to only update your profile. After updating your profile, you may continue to perform official notarial acts under the name in which you were commissioned until your current notary term expires. However, the secretary of state prefers that you write the following on each notarial certificate you complete: “(Your New Name), commissioned as (Your Prior Name).” Note: If you renew after your commission expires, you’ll be required to be commissioned under your new legal name.
• Have your notary commission issued with your new name - If you prefer to obtain a new notary commission with your new name, you will need to:
  1. Pay a $5 application fee plus a $1 service fee to have the secretary of state issue you a commission with your new name.
  2. Appear before the clerk of the court to be sworn in under the new name and pay the clerk of the court’s fee of $11. Your new notary commission will be emailed to you afterwards.
  3. Purchase an official stamp with your new name.
  
  Note: Once you are sworn in for your new notary commission after a change of name, your previous commission held in the old name will no longer be valid. You will not receive a new, four-year notary commission term after changing your name. It will expire on the same date as your old commission.

Revised:

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March 2024