How to become a notary public in Maryland

Maryland notary public licenses

Maryland issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Maryland notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁸

How to apply

Apply online

mdsos2.my.site.com³¹⁰

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years⁵

Renew online

mdsos2.my.site.com¹¹¹⁰

Who needs a Notary Public commission

A Maryland notary may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, take verifications on oath or affirmation, witness or attest signatures, certify or attest copies and note protests of negotiable instruments, anywhere in Maryland. A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, draft legal records, act as an immigration consultant, or use "notario" / "notario publico".⁷

Requirements for a Notary Public commission

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

High school diploma or GED

Not required⁸

Education or training

Notary public course of study from an SOS-authorized provider, covering Maryland notary laws, regulations, ethics, procedures and the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public; virtual (live or self-paced online) or in person. Required since October 1, 2021.¹²
Who may teach it: Course must be given by a provider on the Secretary of State’s authorized list.⁸

Exam

Maryland notary public examination (given by an SOS-authorized course and exam provider)²
Given by: Any provider on the Secretary of State’s List of Authorized Notary Public Course of Study and Examination Providers (e.g., community colleges and private notary training companies).²
Passing score: At least 20 multiple-choice questions; 80 percent correct to receive a Certificate of Passing.¹²
When you can take it: Taken after completing the course of study.¹³
Retakes: A provider must allow a retest for anyone who completed the course but scored below 80 percent.¹³

Background check

Background check required³
No fingerprints required⁶
Applicants disclose criminal convictions and civil judgments; the SOS checks them and denies applications with inaccurate disclosure. The Governor (or SOS by delegation) may deny for a felony or a crime of fraud, dishonesty or deceit, among other grounds.³

Residency or citizenship

Maryland resident, or someone with a place of employment or practice in Maryland. A non-resident must live in a state that lets Maryland residents working there serve as its notaries, and may be asked for proof of Maryland work. Maryland residents must live in the senatorial district from which they are appointed. No citizenship requirement is stated.⁶

Also required

Good moral character and integrity, and contact details for 3 references on the application.⁶

Also required

A Maryland resident’s application must be approved by the State Senator for the applicant’s district, or by the Secretary of State if the Senator has delegated that authority; an out-of-state applicant needs approval by the Secretary of State and a Maryland Senator.³

Also required

Within 30 days of the approval notice you must take the oath before the Clerk of the Circuit Court of your county (your county of work if you live out of state), or the commission is revoked.³

Also required

Changes of name, home address, phone, email or county must be reported to the Secretary of State within 30 days.¹⁴

How much a Notary Public commission costs

You pay SOS (4 fees) and Clerk of the Circuit Court (2 fees).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Check you qualify: 18+, good moral character, living in Maryland or working there (non-residents must live in a state that lets Marylanders serve as its notaries).⁸
2. Order and review the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public ($30 from the Secretary of State).³
3. Complete a course of study and pass the exam (80% or better) with an SOS-authorized provider; you get a Certificate of Completion and a Certificate of Passing.¹² Form (PDF, sos.maryland.gov)²
4. Apply online at mdsos2.my.site.com with your legislative district, government ID, 3 references and both certificates, and pay the $25 application fee.³ mdsos2.my.site.com³
5. The SOS checks your application and background; your State Senator (or the SOS by delegation) approves or denies it. Approval comes by email.³
6. Within 30 days, appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court in your county, take the oath and pay $10 for the commission plus $1 registration. Your commission is then emailed to you.³

Processing time

SOS estimate: new application takes about 15 minutes to complete and 2-14 days for a determination (renewal 1-3 days). Where the SOS decides, usually 2-3 business days; where the State Senator reviews, usually 2-8 weeks. You then have 30 days to be sworn in.⁶

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Four-year term. Renew online from 60 days before expiration up to 30 days after it, with a new course of study certificate; then take the oath again at the Clerk of the Circuit Court within 30 days of approval.⁵

Renewal fee

$25⁴

Required topics

Maryland notary laws, regulations, ethics, procedures and the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public.¹²

If it expires

If you do not renew within 30 days after expiration, you must apply as a new applicant (new course and exam).⁶
If you do not take the oath within 30 days of approval, the commission is revoked and you must reapply and pay a new application fee.³

Moving to Maryland with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public commission. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Remote notary

A Maryland notary physically located in Maryland may notarize for a remotely located individual using communication technology, either on electronic records through an SOS-authorized remote online notary (RON) vendor and/or with other communication technology (including tangible records), and must make and keep an audio-visual recording of each act for 10 years. The maximum fee is $30 per remote notarial act.⁹

Requirements

Experience

Must hold a current Maryland notary commission in good standing.⁹
License you must hold first: Md-notary-public-commission⁹

Residency or citizenship

Notary must be located in Maryland when performing the remote act.¹⁵

Also required

If using a RON vendor, select one or more SOS-authorized vendors on the form and tell the SOS within 10 business days of changing vendors.⁹

Also required

Keep an audio-visual recording of every remote notarial act for at least 10 years.⁹

How to apply

1. Hold a current Maryland notary commission in good standing.⁹
2. File the online remote notary notification form at mdsos2.my.site.com, choosing RON on electronic records (with one or more SOS-authorized vendors) and/or other communication technology.¹⁰ mdsos2.my.site.com¹⁰
3. Wait for the SOS email confirming you are authorized; then you may perform remote notarial acts.¹⁰

Processing time

SOS estimate: the remote notary notification form takes about 5 minutes and 1-3 days for a determination.³

Renewal

When it expires

Remote authority ends when the commission expires; after renewing the commission, file a new remote notary notification form.⁹

If it expires

Authority to perform remote acts expires with the commission.⁹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary Public (commission as notary public)Statewide commission (Governor / Secretary of State); you are sworn in and pay $10 + $1 at your county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, then may notarize anywhere in Maryland.⁶

Remote notary (authorization to perform remote notarial acts)Statewide SOS notification; no local license.⁹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Maryland, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Maryland is on the Maryland license lookup page.

Look up a license

mdsos2.my.site.com⁶

File a complaint

doit.state.md.us¹⁶

Look up a license

sos.maryland.gov⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Md. Code, State Government §§ 18-101 to 18-109; §§ 18-201 to 18-227 (Maryland Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts)
• COMAR 01.02.08 Notary Public: General Regulations
• Md. Code, State Government § 18-214 (notarial act for remotely located individual); § 18-107(a)(2)
• COMAR 01.02.08.07 Obligations of Notaries Public Who Perform Remote Notarial Acts

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 22, 2024: Application fee changed from $9 + $2 service charge to $25 (COMAR 01.02.08.03); maximum notarial fees set at $8 per act and $30 per remote act.¹⁷ Maximum fee for a remote notarial act set at $30 (COMAR 01.02.08.02A).¹⁷

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming