State Information for Maryland
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Maryland Notary Requirements and Information
Maryland Notary Commission Qualifications
Notary applicants must:
• be at least 18 years old;
• be a resident of Maryland or regularly employed within the State;
• be of good character, integrity and abilities.
How to Apply to Become a Maryland Notary
See detailed information including applicable fees, on the website of the Maryland Secretary of State’s Office: https://www.egov.maryland.gov/sos/notary/#/home
• Governor - appoints notaries.
• Secretary of State – maintains records, regulates.
Term of Office
4 Year term
Notary Education and/or Exam Requirement
• Not currently required.
• Effective 10-1-21, course of study and exam required, new Notary applicants; and (refresher) course required, renewing Notary applicants.
Notary Bond Requirement
Not required.
Notary Recordbook (Journal) Requirement
• Recordbook (“fair register”) required. Recordbook requirements expand effective 10-1-20; see Maryland Gov't Code Sec. 18-219, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.
• Effective 10-1-20, a Remote Online Notary or person acting on behalf and at the direction of the Notary must create and retain an audio-visual recording of every performance of a notarial act for a remotely located individual.
Notary Seal Requirement
• Ink stamp or embossing seal required, paper notarial acts.
• Effective 10-1-20 electronic official stamp optional but not required, electronic notarial acts.
Authorized Duties
Until 10.1.20:
• Oaths/affirmations;
• acknowledgments and proofs;
• note protests;
• certify copies of entries from the Notary’s recordbook;
• act as a witness in the Notary’s official capacity.
(Notaries may also take depositions but are discouraged from doing so unless specifically trained.) If a document does not contain notarial wording, a Notary may witness the document signing as follows: identify the signer; observe the document signing; date, sign and seal or stamp the document; insert commission expiration date; create journal entry (repealed 10.1.20). Source: Statute ACM St. Gov Sec. 18-113.
Authorized duties effective 10-1-20:
• acknowledgments;
• oaths/affirmations;
• verifications;
• witness or attest signatures;
• certify or attest copies;
• note protests;
• certify that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate copy of the record.
• Also effective 10-1-20, a Remote Online Notary may notarize for a remotely located individual, using communication technology and subject to requirements and limitations in statutes and any administrative rules.
Change of Name, Address or Eligibility Status
See detailed information on the website of the Maryland Secretary of State: https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/NameChange.aspx
Contact Information for the State of Maryland
State of Maryland Notary Website
https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/default.aspx
State of Maryland Notary FAQs
https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/FAQ.aspx
State of Maryland Online Notary Search
https://mdsos2.my.site.com/s/search-notary-database
Phone Number
(410) 974-5521
Address
Office of the Secretary of State
State House
Anapolis, MD 21401
Apostille Certification Information
Phone Number
(412) 974-5521
Further Information
https://sos.maryland.gov/Certifications/Pages/default.aspx
Information on this page is provided with the understanding that the user is solely responsible for his/her knowledge of notarial law, procedures and practices. The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. All information is subject to change without notice and therefore is provided “as is,” free of warranty of any kind. Last updated August 2020.
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