Dedimus Justice Maine
What a Dedimus Justice Actually Is
A Dedimus Justice is a state official appointed by the Governor of Maine with the specific authority to administer oaths of office to public officers — including notaries public. They are distinct from notaries, judges, and justices of the peace. Their role is narrow: they swear people into public office.
When the Secretary of State approves your notary application, you receive a Certificate of Qualification in the mail. To activate your commission, you must physically appear before a Dedimus Justice and take the oath of office. A regular notary public cannot administer this oath — it has to be a Dedimus Justice.
The 30-Day Deadline
Your Certificate of Qualification includes an appointment date. From that date, you have exactly 30 calendar days to locate a Dedimus Justice, schedule your swearing-in, and take the oath. The completed certificate must then be returned to the Secretary of State within 45 calendar days of the appointment date.
This timeline is strict. If you fail to take the oath within 30 days, your commission is suspended. The state sends a failure-to-qualify notice, and you have a 90-day window from that notice to request reappointment. If those 90 days pass without a request, the commission is cancelled entirely and you must file a brand-new application with another $50 fee.
These deadlines are not discretionary — they are statutory under Maine's Chapter 700 rules governing notaries public.
How to Find a Dedimus Justice
The Secretary of State maintains an online directory of active Dedimus Justices at the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions website. You can search by county or municipality to find one near you.
In practice, many municipal clerks are also commissioned as Dedimus Justices. Your town clerk may be able to administer the oath during the same visit where you got your residency verification on the application. Call your local town hall first to ask.
Some Dedimus Justices charge a small fee for administering the oath — fees vary by location since the state does not regulate them. Some municipalities offer the service for free, while others charge up to $10. Call ahead to confirm availability and any fee.
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What Happens During the Swearing-In
The ceremony itself is brief. The Dedimus Justice reads the oath of office aloud, you affirm or swear to faithfully execute the duties of a notary public in accordance with Maine law, and the Dedimus Justice signs and dates your Certificate of Qualification.
Bring the certificate, a valid photo ID, and your contact information. The Dedimus Justice may want to confirm the appointment details printed on the certificate before proceeding.
After the oath, mail the completed Certificate of Qualification back to the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions at 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101. Keep a copy for your records. Once the state processes the returned certificate, they mail your final "Certificate of Office" — that is your proof of commission and the document you reference when ordering your stamp.
Why This Step Catches People Off Guard
Most states handle notary commissioning entirely online or through a single office visit. Maine's requirement to locate and visit a Dedimus Justice — a role most people have never heard of — is unusual, and the 30-day deadline is tighter than applicants expect.
The How to Become a Notary in Maine guide includes a Dedimus Justice locator section and a deadline tracker that maps every post-approval step, so you do not lose your commission to a missed window.
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