To become a Maine notary public, you must be at least 18, read and write English, live in Maine or work or run a business there, pass the Secretary of State's exam, pay $50, and take your oath before a dedimus justice within 30 days of appointment. Maine's qualifications include no bond. A commission runs seven years. A stamp is optional on paper but required for electronic and remote acts. Here are the steps, costs, oath deadlines and Maine's renewal window.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against 4 M.R.S. chapter 39, 29-250 CMR ch. 700, and the notary pages of the Maine Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | Maine answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | At least 18, able to read and write English, and a Maine resident or someone with a business or place of employment in Maine | 4 M.R.S. § 1922(2); Secretary of State FAQ |
| Background questions | The application asks about convictions punishable by a year or more, and crimes of fraud, dishonesty or deceit | Maine notary public application form |
| Course | The Secretary of State's Course of Study on notarial law, rules, procedures and ethics | 4 M.R.S. § 1923(2) |
| Exam | Required for a first commission and again at renewal; the questions are part of the application | 4 M.R.S. § 1923(1); 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 3 |
| How to apply | Mail the latest application form, with the employer section completed if you live outside Maine | 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 2; application form |
| Application fee | $50, by check or by credit or debit card | Secretary of State FAQ |
| Bond | Not among the listed qualifications, and the application does not ask for one | 4 M.R.S. § 1922 |
| Oath | Before a dedimus justice within 30 calendar days of appointment; certificate of qualification back within 45 | 4 M.R.S. § 1922(3); 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 2(4) |
| Commission term | Seven years | 4 M.R.S. § 1922(4) |
| Stamp or seal | Optional on in-person paper acts, required on electronic and remote acts. Face rules: Maine stamp rules | Secretary of State FAQ; 4 M.R.S. § 1918 |
| Journal | Required for electronic and remote notarizations only | Secretary of State FAQ; 4 M.R.S. § 1920 |
| Renewal | Online from 45 days before expiration; exam, oath and $50 again; a new application after 90 days lapsed | Total Notary Solution FAQ; 29-250 CMR ch. 700 § 3 |
How the Maine journal rule and remote notarization rule compare with the other 53 jurisdictions: see notary journal requirements by state and remote online notarization by state.
Who is eligible for a Maine notary commission?
Under 4 M.R.S. § 1922, you must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and able to pass the state exam. You must also live in Maine or have a business or place of employment located in Maine.
Out-of-state residents qualify through work. The application carries an employment section that your Maine employer fills in and signs, giving the business name and its physical location.
The form also asks two conviction questions: whether you were ever convicted of a crime punishable by one year or more of imprisonment, and whether you were convicted of a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit, in Maine or elsewhere. The Secretary of State's notary FAQ describes the bar as a disqualifying offense, including a plea of guilty or no contest.
How do you apply for a Maine notary commission, step by step?
New applicants mail the current paper application with the $50 fee and answer the exam inside it. After approval, you take the oath before a dedimus justice and return the certificate of qualification within the deadlines the rule sets.
- Study the Notary Public Course of Study, posted on the Secretary of State's notary resources page.
- Fill in the latest application form. Rule ch. 700 § 2 requires the most recent version, and every question needs an answer.
- Complete the exam questions printed in the application, including the definitions section.
- Have your employer sign the employment section if you live outside Maine.
- Mail it to the Secretary of State with the $50 fee, payable to the Treasurer, State of Maine.
- Receive your certificate of commission once the application is approved.
- Appear before a dedimus justice within 30 calendar days of appointment to take the oath.
- Return the certificate of qualification within 45 calendar days of appointment.
The apply and renew page links an Active Notary and Dedimus Justice Search, which helps you find someone to swear you in before the 30 days run out.
What exam and course of study does Maine require?
Section 1923 requires first-time applicants to pass an exam given by the Secretary of State or an approved entity, based on a course of study covering notarial laws, rules, procedures and ethics. Under rule ch. 700 § 3, renewing notaries must pass an exam as well.
For a new commission, the exam questions sit inside the application form, followed by a section matching notarial terms to their definitions. The questions draw on the course of study that § 1923(2) describes, which the Secretary of State publishes as the Notary Public Course of Study, so read it before you answer.
Renewal uses a different format. A renewing notary takes the examination online, then prints the documents, has the oath administered by a dedimus justice, and mails the originally signed exam and oath to the Secretary of State.
What does a Maine notary commission cost?
The application fee is $50, paid by check or by credit or debit card, and a renewal also costs $50. With no bond among Maine's requirements, the rest is supplies: a stamp if you choose one, and a journal if you notarize electronically or remotely.
Checks go to the Treasurer, State of Maine, and the Secretary of State posts a credit card payment voucher next to the application. The notary resources page lists processing at 15 to 20 business days.
Do Maine notaries need a bond?
No bond appears among Maine's requirements. The qualifications in 4 M.R.S. § 1922 cover age, where you live or work, English and the exam, and neither the current application nor the Secretary of State's FAQ asks for a surety bond.
The commission brings no special shield either. Section 1922(5) says it gives the notary no immunity or benefit that Maine law confers on public officials or employees.
How long does a Maine commission last, and how does renewal work?
A Maine commission is valid for seven years under § 1922(4). You can renew online starting 45 days before it expires, but you still pass the exam again and take a new oath before a dedimus justice.
Renewals run through the Total Notary Solution service, and the fee is $50. Under the rule, the office sends a written expiration notice at least 30 days ahead, by email when it has an address on file.
Timing carries consequences under rule ch. 700 § 3. File after expiration and you cannot notarize until the renewal is complete and the oath taken; let more than 90 calendar days pass and you must file a new application. The online FAQ adds that a renewal filed no more than 20 days after expiration keeps your original expiration month and day.
Do you need a notary stamp in Maine, and which one should you order?
A stamp is optional for in-person paper notarizations but required for every electronic or remote one. The Secretary of State strongly suggests using a stamp on all notarizations unless its use is prohibited, and rule ch. 700 § 7 limits the shape to rectangular or circular.
Under 4 M.R.S. § 1918, the face shows your name as commissioned, Notary Public, State of Maine or Maine, and your commission expiration date, and the impression must copy along with the record. No ink color is set. Our Maine notary stamp rules page covers each element.
Since the expiration date comes from your commission, order after the certificate of commission arrives. A stamp from an earlier term carries an outdated date; see our guide to checking a notary seal's expiration date.
When does a Maine notary have to keep a journal?
Only for electronic and remote notarizations. The Secretary of State's FAQ says a notarial officer must keep a journal of all electronic and remote acts, and that no journal is required for notarizations performed in person on paper.
Section 1920 of the statute governs the journal, and rule ch. 700 requires every electronic notarization to be recorded in it. If you plan to add remote work, set up the journal before the first remote session.
Which changes must a Maine notary report, and how fast?
Give the Secretary of State written notice within 30 calendar days. Rule ch. 700 § 2(5) covers a name change by court order or marriage, a new residence or mailing address, and changes to your email, phone, employment or business location.
The same rule reaches changes to your electronic or remote capabilities, a criminal conviction, and a finding of liability involving fraud or dishonesty. The FAQ notes that you can make updates online. The statute gives no day count for a lost or stolen stamp, only that you report it promptly.
Can Maine notaries perform remote or electronic notarizations?
Yes, with approval from the Secretary of State and only through technology from a state-approved provider. Remote and electronic acts also bring two duties that paper acts lack in Maine: a required stamp and a required journal.
Sections 5 and 6 of rule ch. 700 set the procedures for electronic and remote notarization. Technology providers apply to the Secretary of State separately, and a provider's approval lasts one year.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Maine notary perform weddings?
Not on the strength of the commission. The application form states that since July 1, 2023, Maine notaries have lost the authority to solemnize marriages as notaries public.
Which notary supplies does Maine require?
For in-person paper work, none by law, though the Secretary of State strongly suggests a stamp. Electronic and remote acts change that: both need a stamp, and both go into a journal.
What is a dedimus justice?
It is the officer before whom a Maine notary takes the oath required by 4 M.R.S. § 1922(3). The Secretary of State's Active Notary and Dedimus Justice Search lists who can administer it.
What if I miss the 30-day oath deadline?
Under rule ch. 700 § 2(4), the Secretary of State notifies you, and you have 90 calendar days to request reappointment, then 30 more to be sworn in. Miss the 90 days and you file a new application.
Where is the Maine notary handbook?
For study material, the Secretary of State's notary resources page posts the Notary Public Course of Study, the notarial acts statute in 4 M.R.S. chapter 39, and the rules in 29-250 CMR ch. 700.
How long does a Maine application take?
The notary resources page lists 15 to 20 business days. Once appointed, keep the oath and certificate deadlines in view, since they run from the date of appointment rather than the date your mail arrives.
A stamp is optional for Maine paper work but required the moment you go electronic, so when your certificate of commission arrives, browse our Maine notary stamps and seals for round and rectangular options. To see how other states handle the stamp, read our notary seal requirements by state.
