Applications for Notary Public Commission can be obtained from the Secretary of State's website. Once your application has been submitted and approved, you will be notified by the Secretary of State's office to appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to take the oath of office and receive your Notary Commission.
This state-approved online Notary education and examination fulfill Maryland's state requirement for all new Notary applicants.
Effective October 1, 2021: all new notary applicants, must complete a Course of Study and pass an examination; all renewal applicants, must complete a Course of Study and pass an examination.
Failure to appear within 30 days will result in revocation of your commission. Complete ApplicationApplication Determination New notary application 15 minutes 2-14 days Renewal notary application 10 minutes 1-3 days Remote notary notification form 5 minutes 1-3 days
Yes! Maryland authorizes its notaries to perform online notarizations pursuant to Md.
Applications for Notary Public Commission can be obtained from the Secretary of State's website. Once your application has been submitted and approved, you will be notified by the Secretary of State's office to appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to take the oath of office and receive your Notary Commission.
Yes. Maryland allows Notaries who hold commissions for online notarization to conduct Remote Online Notarization (RON) services. The legalization of Remote Online Notarization in Maryland was established through Senate Bill 678, which became permanent in October 2020.
Requirements to be a Remote Notary in Maryland Effective October 1, 2021, Maryland will require Notary applicants to take a state-required course and pass the exam to get their traditional commissions and the requirement of living or working in the state will no longer apply.
Online notary is legal in Maryland under Maryland Code, Article-State Gov't § 18-201. Maryland law also recognizes and accepts online notarizations performed by out-of-state notaries under their state rules. (See Maryland State Government Section 19-103.)
How long is a notary public commission valid? A notary public commission is valid from the time the person qualified before the Clerk of the Circuit Court until four years from the date the commission was issued. The expiration date is shown on each commission.