How to Become a Notary in Maine

Maine Notary Eligibility Requirements

Before you touch the application, confirm you meet the baseline requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, able to read, write, and speak English, and either a Maine resident or a New Hampshire resident who works or runs a business with a physical location in Maine.

You also need a clean record — no conviction for a crime carrying one year or more of imprisonment, and no fraud or dishonesty convictions within the last 10 years. If you've had a notary commission revoked or suspended for cause in any jurisdiction within the past five years, the Secretary of State will reject your application.

New Hampshire residents who qualify get a four-year commission instead of the standard seven-year term that Maine residents receive.

Get and Complete the Paper Application

Maine's initial notary application is paper-only — there is no online submission option for first-time applicants. Request the physical "Application for a Notary Public Commission" from the Secretary of State's office or download the PDF from the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions website.

The application includes an integrated open-book examination printed directly on the form. You complete the exam using the state's free "Notary Public Course of Study" as a reference. This is not a timed, proctored test — it is designed to ensure you understand the laws you'll be operating under.

Fill in every section: legal name, physical and mailing addresses, contact details, and any required criminal history or disciplinary disclosures.

Collect Three Required Signatures

This is the step that trips people up. Your completed application needs three separate verification signatures before it can be mailed to Augusta:

A registered Maine voter must sign the application endorsing your honesty, integrity, and literacy. The endorser cannot be a relative.

Your municipal clerk or registrar of voters must verify your residency (or, for NH residents, your Maine employment), then sign and seal the application. Visit your local town hall or city hall in person.

A commissioned notary public must witness your signature on the application and notarize it. This is a standard notarization — the notary confirms your identity and watches you sign.

Submit and Pay the $50 Fee

Mail or hand-deliver the completed package — application, exam answers, all three endorsement signatures — to the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions at 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101.

Include a $50 fee by check or money order payable to the "Treasurer, State of Maine," or enclose the completed Credit Card Payment Voucher form. Processing typically takes 15 to 20 business days.

Take Your Oath of Office Within 30 Days

Once the Secretary of State approves your application, you receive a "Certificate of Qualification" (your oath of office form) by mail. This is where the clock starts.

You have 30 calendar days from the appointment date printed on the certificate to appear before a Dedimus Justice — a state official specifically commissioned to swear in public officers. Use the state's online directory to find an active Dedimus Justice near you.

The Dedimus Justice administers your oath and signs your Certificate of Qualification. You then have 45 calendar days from the appointment date to return the completed certificate to the Secretary of State.

Miss the 30-day oath deadline and your commission is suspended. You get a 90-day grace period to request reappointment — miss that, and you start the entire application over with a new form and another $50.

Order Your Supplies

After the Secretary of State processes your oath, you receive your official "Certificate of Office." Only now should you order supplies containing your commission expiration date.

For traditional paper notarizations, a physical stamp is technically optional — but it is standard practice. If you use one, the stamp must show your name exactly as commissioned, the words "Notary Public," "Maine" or "State of Maine," and your commission expiration date.

A journal is also optional for paper-based work, though the state strongly recommends keeping one for liability protection. Maine does not require a surety bond, which means you carry personal liability for mistakes — errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is worth the $25 to $120 per year investment.

If you plan to notarize electronic documents or perform remote online notarizations, those require separate state registration, mandatory journals, and approved technology platforms. That is a distinct process that comes after your traditional commission is active.

What the Full Process Costs

The mandatory state cost is $50 for the application fee. Beyond that, a basic self-inking stamp runs $15 to $40, and a bound journal costs $10 to $25. E&O insurance adds $25 to $120 annually depending on coverage limits.

There is no required training course, no bond to purchase, and no association membership you need to pay for. If you see a vendor bundling all of these into a $200+ package, know that the only legally required expenditure is the $50 state fee.

For a complete walkthrough covering the entire commissioning sequence — from eligibility verification through your first notarization — the How to Become a Notary in Maine guide lays out every deadline, form, and decision point in chronological order.

See more Maine guides →