Legislation
State: Maine
Signed: May 31, 2013
Effective: September 18, 2013
Chapter: 178
SummaryMaine House Paper 1089 allows judge advocates and paralegals serving in Maine’s military forces to exercise the duties of a Notary for any member or spouse of the state’s military forces or the U.S. armed forces without having to be commissioned as a Maine Notary. These officers may not charge fees for the notarizations they perform.
AffectsAdds Section 390-C to Title 1. 37-B of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.
Changes - Provides that a commissioned or warrant officer of the state military forces and other personnel of the state military forces authorized to administer oaths under the laws of Maine may administer oaths for the purpose of the administration of military justice and for other purposes of military administration.
- Provides that a commissioned or warrant officer of the United States Armed Forces may administer enlistment oaths to persons enlisting or reenlisting in the National Guard.
- Provides that a judge advocate or paralegal serving in the state military forces has, by virtue of the judge advocate’s or paralegal's office and service, the powers of a Notary in the performance of all notarial acts to be executed for any member of the state military forces or United States Armed Forces or spouse of a member of the state military forces or United States Armed Forces.
- Provides that judge advocate or paralegal may not charge a fee for the performance of a notarial act.
- Provides that the signature of any judge advocate or paralegal acting as a Notary, together with that person's official title, is prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine, that the person holds the designated title and that the person is authorized to perform a notarial act.
- Provides that a notarization or acknowledgment by a judge advocate or paralegal accomplished under the authority of this subsection must generally follow the form prescribed in the new law.
AnalysisMaine House Paper 1089 allows judge advocates and paralegals serving in Maine’s military forces to exercise the duties of a Notary for any member or spouse of the state’s military forces or the U.S. armed forces without having to be commissioned as a Maine Notary. These officers may not charge fees for the notarizations they perform.