How to Become a Notary Public in Maine

Section 1922(2) of Title 4 lists the qualifications, and the Chapter 700 rules spell out what trustworthiness means in practice. Nonresidents are welcome if they work or own a business in Maine; the application has a section that the nonresident's employer must sign, or that the business owner completes with the business's legal name and addresses.

The rules give a long, non-exhaustive list of crimes that count as involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit, including perjury, forgery, identity theft, theft, embezzlement and deceptive practices.

Section 1923 requires the exam to be based on a course of study covering the laws, rules, procedures and ethics of notarial acts. The Secretary of State publishes that course as a free PDF, the Notary Public Course of Study. It is the best preparation for the exam and doubles as a desk reference once you are commissioned.

Maine does not require any other training for a traditional commission. The signature block of the application does ask you to declare that you have read chapter 39 and the Chapter 700 rules, so read those too.

The Secretary of State's FAQ is explicit that first-time applicants cannot apply online; you must deliver the current Application for a Notary Public Commission. The form asks for your legal name, addresses, contact details and any language fluency, and it asks about criminal convictions and disciplinary findings. Answer these completely; a fraudulent or deceitful omission is itself grounds for denial or later revocation.

The exam is printed on pages two and three of the same form. The companion Maine exam guide describes its structure. The application also asks whether you want to opt out of a separate marriage officiant license, which Maine residents otherwise receive automatically with a notary commission.

The application fee is $50, payable to Treasurer, State of Maine, by check or by credit or debit card using the office's payment voucher. Mail the form to the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101. The office currently quotes 15 to 20 business days for processing.

No bond or errors and omissions policy is required by Maine's notary law.

When your application is approved, the Secretary of State sends a certificate of commission and a certificate of qualification. From the date of appointment you have 30 calendar days to appear before a Dedimus Justice and take the oath in section 1922(3), and 45 calendar days to return the completed certificate of qualification. The office's online search lists Dedimus Justices by town, and a Dedimus is sometimes available at the Augusta office if you call ahead.

Miss either deadline and the Secretary of State will notify you that you failed to qualify. You then have 90 days from that notice to request reappointment, followed by another 30 days to be sworn. After that, you start over with a new application.

Maine is one of the less expensive states to enter. The only state charge is the $50 application fee; there is no bond to buy, a stamp is optional for paper notarizations, and the Course of Study is free. A Dedimus Justice administers the oath, and it is worth asking in advance whether the one you choose charges anything for the appointment.

Plan on roughly a month from mailing to being able to notarize: 15 to 20 business days for the office to process the application, then up to 30 days to be sworn in. You may not perform any notarial act until you have taken the oath, so book a Dedimus Justice as soon as your approval arrives rather than waiting until the end of the window.

A Maine commission lasts seven years under section 1922(4). The Secretary of State emails a reminder at least 30 days before expiration, but not receiving it does not extend your commission. Renewals are done online through the Total Notary Solution service with a $50 card payment. The service lets you renew from 45 days before expiration until 90 days after it, though you may not notarize during any gap, and after 90 days you must apply as a new applicant.

Renewal includes an online exam, and afterward you print the renewal application and oath, are sworn in by a Dedimus Justice again, and mail the signed originals. Between renewals, report changes to your name, addresses, email, phone, employment-based eligibility or criminal record within 30 calendar days under the Chapter 700 rules. Once you are commissioned, your name, town, phone number and email are posted on the state's public notary search.