How to Become a Notary Public in Maryland

There is a non-refundable $25 fee to apply for a Notary Public commission. An $11 fee is paid to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office for taking your oath of office and receiving your commission. Additional costs for bonds, Notary tools and education courses vary depending on vendors.

The cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary. Supply package prices vary among vendors. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

Some vendors may package items with additional fees — processing fees for example. Training can be included in package prices for new Notaries, although the quality of education can vary. Some providers offer their own Notary courses while others do not have the on-staff expertise to develop and support educational content. Several vendors offer Notaries live question and answer support, and others are not able to offer such assistance.

The Maryland Secretary of State recommends allowing four to six weeks for the processing of a Notary Public commission application.

The term of a Maryland Notary commission is four years.

A Notary Public applicant in Maryland must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be known of good moral character, integrity and abilities
• Reside in or have a place of employment or practice in Maryland

Notaries must take a Notary training course approved by the Secretary of State and pass an exam. The course will cover Notary laws, regulations and ethics relevant to notarial acts. The National Notary Association offers a state approved education course and exam. For those interested, Maryland provides a Notary Public Handbook that outlines the proper procedures for notarizing a document and makes for a great reference.

Maryland Notaries are required to get an official stamp. The stamp may be a photocopiable embosser or inked rubber stamp and it must contain the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• Your office
• The county in which you reside or were qualified
• Your commission expiration date (optional)
• Any other information required by the Secretary of State

Your commission expiration date may be included in your seal or on a certificate of the notarial act you complete and sign. In addition, the Notary stamp must be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached.

When shopping for seal stamps, quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging. A second seal can help you avoid downtime if your seal is ever misplaced, and an embosser can help add an additional layer of fraud prevention security.

You'll also need a journal for all notarial acts you perform. The Secretary of State requires a Notary journal to be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages or a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format that complies with SOS regulations. You must store all journals for 10 years after the performance of the last notarial act.

Supplies are sold by most vendors in packages, which can sometimes provide savings. However, not all vendor packages are created equal — they can vary greatly in terms of quality and content. If you are a new Notary or renewing your commission, the types and quantity of notarizations can require different tools of the trade.

Maryland Notaries are not required to purchase a surety bond. A surety bond is a financial guarantee that the Notary will fulfill his or her obligations to notarize in compliance with state laws. This Notary bond specifically protects the public, not the Notary.

Notaries can insure themselves against possible legal costs or damages by purchasing a separate, optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. Though not required by law, an E&O policy covers a Notary's legal fees and damages up to the amount of the policy.

The Maryland Office of Secretary of State, Notary Division, located in Annapolis, MD, issues Notary Public commissions.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become a Maryland Notary Public. You must, however, be a legal resident of the state or work in the state legally and meet all other application requirements.

A Maryland Notary can perform notarial acts anywhere within the state's borders.

Any member of the public except for yourself or your spouse, as long as the request meets all statutory requirements for notarization. Any notarial acts in which you or your spouse have a direct beneficial interest will not be allowed. The SOS recommends refraining from any notarial acts where you are personally involved in — directly or indirectly. You should also refrain from notarizing documents for immediate family members.

Maryland Notaries can charge a maximum fee of $8 per notarial act. An additional fee for travel may be charged for mileage established by the Internal Revenue Service, but cannot exceed $5.

You must notify the Secretary of State and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County, or Baltimore City — depending upon where you were appointed — of the address or name change within 30 days. To update your address, visit this page.

For name changes, you can keep using the name on your commission until your term expires. In this case, the SOS recommends using the form "New Name, commissioned as Prior Name."

You also have the option to get a new commission altogether under your new name by visiting this page and paying a fee to the Secretary of State. You must appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to be sworn in and pay the filing fee. When your new commission is issued, your previous one will be canceled.

Approximately two months before your commission expires, the Secretary of State will notify you. You'll need to complete a Notary training course as part of the application process. Complete the form online and submit it along with an electronic image of your course completion certificate as well as the $25 application and processing fee. Within 30 days of your commission being approved, you'll need to appear and pay the fees to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of your commission.

Starting October 1, 2020, Maryland Notaries with an active commission can register to perform remote online notarizations. Remote Notaries can provide their services for signers in any location as long as they're physically located within Maryland at the time of the notarial act. Follow the steps in this guide to register for your remote authorization.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.