How to Become a Notary in Maine (2026 Guide)
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Key Takeaways
- No surety bond required: one of the few states without one
- Open book exam required (on the application form)
- Application fee: $50 | Commission term: 7 years (4 years for NH residents)
- Processing time: 4-6 weeks
- Notary stamp not required but recommended
- No state fee cap for notarial acts
- Must be 18+, a ME resident (or NH resident employed in ME), proficient in English
- Requires endorsement from a registered Maine voter
- Remote online notarization available (separate SOS application)
- Weddings require a separate Marriage Officiant License (since July 2023)
Becoming a Maine notary is a paperwork exercise more than a test: complete the application with its built-in open-book exam, collect three signatures including a registered Maine voter’s endorsement, send it to the Secretary of State with $50, and take your oath before a dedimus justice within 30 days. There is no bond, no state fee cap, the commission runs seven years, and a separate SOS application adds remote online notarization.
Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be proficient in English
- Be a resident of Maine or a resident of New Hampshire who is regularly employed within Maine
- Be recommended for a notary commission by a registered Maine voter who can attest to your ability to perform notarial duties
Disqualifying Factors
Three things bar appointment: a notary commission revoked for official misconduct in any state within the past 5 years; a conviction punishable by jail time while you are incarcerated, on parole or probation, or still appealing; and a conviction for a crime involving dishonesty, which blocks appointment for 10 years after release from jail or probation (or from the conviction date if you were not incarcerated).
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Complete the Application and Open Book Exam
Download the Application for a Notary Public Commission from the Maine Secretary of State. Complete the open book exam on notarial law and practices: it’s part of the application form itself, signed under oath.
Step 2: Gather Signatures
You need three signatures: your own (notarized by another notary), your municipal clerk or registrar of voters, and the registered Maine voter endorsing you. Each must sign and seal the appropriate section of the application.
Step 3: Submit to the Secretary of State
Mail the completed application and $50 filing fee to the Secretary of State. Processing takes 4-6 weeks. You’ll receive a certificate of qualification (oath of office form) by mail.
Step 4: Take Your Oath Within 30 Days
You must be sworn into office within 30 days of your appointment date. Take your oath before a dedimus justice and present your certificate of qualification. Then mail the notarized certificate back to the Secretary of State within 45 days of your appointment date.
Costs to Get Commissioned
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 |
| No bond required | $0 |
| Notary stamp (recommended) | $15-$25 |
| Notary journal (recommended) | $10-$50 |
| Total | $75-$125 |
Maximum Allowable Fees
Maine does not set a maximum fee for notarial acts. You set your own rates, but always disclose fees before performing the notarization.
Authorized Notarial Acts
- Take acknowledgments
- Administer oaths and affirmations
- Execute jurats
- Certify copies
- Witness or attest signatures
- Perform marriages, with a separate Marriage Officiant License (see below)
Notary Stamp Requirements
Maine does not require a notary stamp. If you use one, it must meet the state’s specifications. Most Maine notaries use a stamp for convenience and authentication.
Notarizing for Family Members
Maine does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members. As with all states, avoid notarizing documents where you have a direct financial or beneficial interest.
Weddings: the Officiant License
Maine notaries no longer solemnize marriages by virtue of the commission alone. Since July 1, 2023, a separate Marriage Officiant License is required; Maine-resident notaries are automatically eligible and receive it free, with a marriage journal to maintain. The full national picture, including the four states where the commission alone is enough, is in our notary wedding officiant guide.
Penalties for Misconduct
A Maine commission can be revoked for official misconduct, and the disqualification windows above (5 years after a revocation, 10 years after a dishonesty conviction) apply at appointment. Performing notarial acts outside the law carries the state’s standard criminal penalties for official misconduct.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Not required, but recommended, especially since Maine has no bond requirement. Without a bond, E&O is your primary protection against personal liability.
Renewal
Maine notary commissions last 7 years for Maine residents, 4 years for New Hampshire residents. Renew through the Secretary of State with the same application process and $50 fee. No grace period.
Remote Online Notarization
Maine does allow remote online notarization. A commissioned notary applies through the Secretary of State’s remote/electronic notary application and works with an approved communication-technology provider; the SOS also licenses the providers themselves. If you served clients in person only because you believed remote work was off the table, that changed a while ago.
Becoming a Signing Agent
Maine notaries can add signing agent work the usual way: complete a certification program and register with signing services. In-person signings dominate the local market, though RON availability now widens the options. Start with our guide to becoming a signing agent.
Maine is unusual in several ways: no bond, the built-in open-book exam, the ability to perform marriages (with the officiant license), a 7-year term, and the voter endorsement plus dedimus justice oath. Neighboring New Hampshire requires a $75 fee and Governor and Council approval but also has no bond; Vermont, the other neighbor, has no bond either. Guides: New Hampshire and Vermont.
Your Commission Belongs to You
A Maine commission is personal. If you leave a job, your stamp and commission go with you, and no employer can require you to skip proper procedure or limit your notary work to company business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a notary exam in Maine?
Yes, but it is open book and printed on the application itself. You complete it at home, sign it under oath, and mail it in with the rest of the paperwork.
Do I need a surety bond in Maine?
No. Maine is one of the few states with no bond requirement, which also means no bond premium in your startup costs.
How long does a Maine notary commission last?
7 years for Maine residents, 4 years for New Hampshire residents commissioned through Maine employment.
Is a notary stamp required in Maine?
No, though most notaries use one. If you do, it must meet the state’s specifications.
Can Maine notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes. Commissioned notaries apply through the Secretary of State’s remote/electronic notary application and use an approved communication-technology provider.
Can Maine notaries perform marriages?
Only with a separate Marriage Officiant License, required since July 1, 2023. Maine-resident notaries are automatically eligible and receive it free. See our notary wedding officiant guide for the states where a commission alone is enough.
Updated October 2026. Requirements based on the Maine Secretary of State and MRSA Title 4; officiant-license rule effective July 1, 2023.
