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Application Procedures
Step 1: Review the Duties & Responsibilities of a Notary Public in Maryland and the Official Notary Public Manual, and download and complete the Application Form
The duties and responsibilities of a Maryland notary public are outlined at the following address: Duties of a Notary Public
You should also download this copy of the Maryland Notary Public Handbook
After reviewing the above items and when you are ready, new and renewing notaries need to download the following instructions and complete them accurately Maryland New Notary Public Information.
To complete the notary application, Maryland residents will need to have your legislative district, election district, precinct number and the name of your State Senator. You can find your legislative district and name of your State Senator by using the look-up link provided by the Maryland State Archives. The remaining information can be obtained by contacting the Local Elections Office in your county or the City of Baltimore. Non-Maryland residents should select the county or City of Baltimore in which you would like to be commissioned (i.e. generally the county in which you work).
Once you have completed the application, you should forward it along with a $20.00 non-refundable processing fee to the following address:
Notary Division, Office of the Secretary of State
State House, Annapolis MD, 21401
Checks or money orders must be made payable to the "Secretary of State", and cash is not accepted. Please do not staple your fee to the notary public application.
After the Notary Division reviews and accepts your application it will be forwarded to your State Senator for his or her recommendation. Since State Senators may contact your references, please ensure that the information you provide about your references is complete. Incomplete information will result in a delay of the processing of your application.
Step 2: Await notice of your commission and proceed to the Clerk of the Circuit Court to take your Oath of Office
If your State Senator recommends you for a notary public commission, the Office of the Secretary of State issues a commission and forwards it to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county in which you reside or, for non-Maryland residents, the county in which you selected to be commissioned. The Notary Division will send a postcard stating that you have been commissioned as a notary public and instruct you to go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court to take your Oath of Office. At the Clerk of the Circuit Court, you will pay a separate fee of $11.00 to the Clerk.
You must be commissioned at the Clerk's Office within 30 days of being notified. If you are not commissioned within the 30-day period, your commission is revoked. If you do not receive a postcard but were notified by your State Senator that your application has been approved, please contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in your county of residence or, for non-Maryland residents, the county in which you selected to be commissioned to determine if your commission is at the Clerk's Office. Within the 30-day period your commission is likely to be at the Clerk's Office.
New and Renewing Notary Packages
Renewing Notary Packages do not come with a notary journal
Step 3: Order your supplies from The Notary's Store
Please visit The Notary's Store, you will be entering the Maryland section for your official notary supplies. We offer both a New Notary Supply Package and a Renewing Notary Supply Package which include your required Maryland Notary Seal/Stamp and Maryland Notary Journal, and other needed notary supplies at a special reduced price. To order, enter the required information and scroll down through the page to locate the notary packages, and any other products you would like to purchase. Follow the onscreen instructions through checkout and your supplies will be sent to you as soon as your order is processed, and will ship in usually no more than 2 business days. Once you receive your seal, notary journal and supplies you will be ready to begin your duties as a notary public for the State of Maryland.
Note: An Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy is not required by law, but may be purchased as it protects the notary public and pays for any charges the notary might owe for legal fees and costs should the notary be sued.
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