Maine does not require notaries to use a stamp, but any stamp you do use must show your name as commissioned, "Notary Public", "State of Maine" or "Maine", and your commission expiration date, in an imprint that copies along with the record. A separate rule limits the shape to rectangular or circular. No ink color is set. Below: wording, shape, embossers, the term and change notices.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against 4 M.R.S. § 1918 and The Maine Secretary of State, through the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp use | Optional for a Maine notary. | The Maine Secretary of State |
| Name | Printed the way your commission shows it. | 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Title | "Notary Public" | 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Jurisdiction | "State of Maine", or "Maine" on its own. | 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Expiration date | The date your commission ends. | 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Copyable imprint | The impression reproduces together with the record it is placed on, attached to or logically linked with. | 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Shape | Rectangular or circular, set by rule rather than by statute. | 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 7 |
| Ink color | No color is set. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Change notices | Tell the Secretary of State in writing no later than 30 calendar days after any listed change, including name and address. | 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 2(5) |
| Renewal | Meet § 1922 again, which includes the § 1923 examination and an oath taken before a dedimus justice. | rule ch. 700 § 3 |
For the same rule in the other 53 jurisdictions, read notary seal requirements by state.
Does a Maine notary have to use a stamp?
No. A Maine notary is not required to use a stamp. The rules on this page start to apply once you decide to use one, and from then on the stamp has to carry the required items and meet the shape rule.
That makes Maine a state where the purchase is a choice but the design is not. If you buy a stamp, build it to the list below. Our piece on Maine notary stamp law covers the statute behind it.
What must a Maine stamp show if you use one?
Five things, under 4 M.R.S. § 1918: your name as it appears on your commission, the words "Notary Public", either "State of Maine" or "Maine", your commission expiration date, and an imprint that can be copied along with the record it is on.
The first four are text on the face. The fifth is a quality standard for the impression as a whole: whatever you stamp has to reproduce with the record, whether the stamp is placed on it, attached to it or logically associated with it. See our Maine notary public seal guidelines for more on the face.
Which shapes does Maine allow?
Rectangular or circular. That limit comes from a rule, 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 7, and not from the statute, so a stamp designed from the statute alone could miss it.
The quoted rule text names the two outlines and gives no measurement, so pick a size that holds the four text items comfortably. Any other outline, such as an oval or a shield, falls outside the two the rule names. Before you buy, read what to check before buying a Maine notary public seal.
Can a Maine notary use an embosser?
Yes, embossing is expressly permitted. The permission comes with a condition, though, and a traditional embosser does not get past it, so a conventional embosser on its own is not a safe way to meet the Maine rules.
The source we checked flags that condition without setting out its terms, so we do not guess at them here. Until you know that condition is met, do not use a traditional embosser as your official stamp.
Is there an ink color rule in Maine?
No. Maine sets no ink color for a notary stamp, and this is a firm answer rather than a gap in our reading: the rules cited here simply contain no color requirement.
Because the imprint still has to reproduce with the record, choose an ink that stays sharp when the document is copied. That is the practical test, not a color rule.
How long does a Maine notary commission run?
Seven years, which places Maine among the longest commission terms in the country. The commission does not bring with it any of the immunities or benefits that Maine law extends to public officials or employees.
A long term means a stamp showing your expiration date stays accurate for years. For more, see our guide to Maine notary stamp renewal requirements.
What does renewing a Maine commission involve?
Renewal falls under rule ch. 700 § 3, and it sends you back through § 1922. That means sitting the examination under § 1923 again and taking the oath before a dedimus justice, as you did the first time.
A renewed commission carries a new expiration date, so a stamp printed with the old date no longer matches your commission once the new term begins.
Which changes must you report, and how fast?
Within 30 calendar days, in writing, to the Secretary of State. The deadline sits in the rule, 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 2(5), rather than in the statute, so reading the statute alone will not turn it up.
The list is broad. It covers a name change through marriage or a court order, a new residence or mailing address, a new email address or phone number, a new employer or business location, any change in what you can do electronically or remotely, a criminal conviction, and being found liable for fraud or dishonesty.
What if a Maine stamp is lost or stolen?
Act promptly. The duty that follows a lost or stolen stamp is framed as promptness, with no number of days attached, so treat it as something to handle as soon as you know the stamp is gone.
Because the stamp is optional, you may choose not to replace it. If you do reorder, the new stamp has to meet the same five items and the shape rule.
Who commissions Maine notaries?
The Maine Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. The Secretary of State is also the office that receives the written change notices described above.
New notaries can find a starting point in our page on Maine seal requirements for new notaries.
What should you supply when ordering, and how do you check the stamp?
Supply your name exactly as the commission shows it, your commission expiration date, your choice of "State of Maine" or "Maine", and a rectangular or circular outline. "Notary Public" is fixed text on every Maine stamp.
When it arrives, stamp a sheet, then photocopy that sheet. Every item should read on the copy as well as on the original, and the outline should be a rectangle or a circle. Our overview of Maine notary stamp requirements is a useful cross-check.
Frequently asked questions
Does an oval stamp meet Maine's shape rule?
No. The rule names two outlines only, rectangular and circular, and an oval is neither.
Does my commission number go on a Maine stamp?
It is not on the required list. The five items are your name, "Notary Public", the jurisdiction, the expiration date and a copyable imprint.
Does a Maine commission make me a public official?
Not for the purposes of immunities or benefits. Holding the commission gives you none of the protections or benefits Maine law provides to public officials or employees.
If I never use a stamp, do the stamp rules affect me?
The wording and shape rules apply to a stamp you choose to use. The 30-day change notices and the renewal steps apply to every Maine notary, stamp or not.
Is "Maine" alone enough, or must the stamp say "State of Maine"?
Either form meets the rule. Pick whichever fits your layout better; both identify the jurisdiction.
Once you have decided on a rectangular or circular face, choose your stamp from our Maine stamps and seals collection.
