SummaryHouse Bill 102 authorizes the clerk of the circuit court to charge up to $11 for the commission issued to a Notary Public, as prescribed by the Secretary of State, and authorizes the Secretary of State by rule to set fees Notaries may charge for a notarial act at no more than $4.
AnalysisIn Maryland, once the Secretary of State has approved an application for a Notary commission, the Secretary issues and forwards the commission to the clerk of the circuit court in the applicant’s county of residence (or the City of Baltimore). If the Notary applicant is a non-resident, the commission is forwarded to the clerk of the county indicated by the non-resident applicant. The clerk is authorized to charge the Notary $1 for “qualifying” and registering the Notary, and up to a maximum fee of $10 for issuing of the actual commission itself, as prescribed by the Secretary of State. Effective June 1, 2013, the clerk of the circuit court may charge a up to a maximum fee of $11 for the issuance of the commission, as prescribed by the Secretary of State, or $1 more than the current fee. Also, the new law requires the Secretary to issue an administrative rule to prescribe the fee a Notary may charge to perform a notarial act. Currently, this fee is $2, but the new law allows the Secretary to increase the fee to $4. Thus, a rule could be issued in the coming weeks allowing a Notary to charge $4.