Maine Remote Online Notary Requirements

You Need a Traditional Commission First

Remote online notarization (RON) in Maine is an expansion of an existing notary commission, not a standalone license. You must already hold an active, traditional Maine notary public commission in good standing before you can apply for RON authority.

If you do not have a commission yet, start there. The traditional commissioning process takes four to six weeks from application to Certificate of Office.

Select an Approved Technology Provider

You cannot use consumer video tools like Zoom, FaceTime, or Google Meet for remote notarizations. Maine law under RULONA requires that you contract with a technology platform specifically approved by the Secretary of State.

The state publishes a list of approved technology providers, which you can download from the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions website. These platforms provide integrated systems for digital signatures, automated identity verification (credential analysis plus knowledge-based authentication), tamper-evident document seals, and mandatory continuous audio-visual recording.

Compare providers based on subscription cost, per-transaction fees, training requirements, and the types of documents they support. The state does not endorse any specific platform — your choice is between the approved options on the list.

Complete Provider Training

After selecting your platform, you must complete their specialized training module. The provider issues a certificate of completion confirming you have been trained on their proprietary system. No additional exam or testing is required by the Secretary of State — the provider training is the only mandatory education for RON authorization.

Keep the certificate. You need to attach it to your state filing.

File the Notice to Perform

Submit the "Notarial Officer's Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Online Notarizations" form to the Secretary of State. This is filed online through the state's administrative system. There is no state filing fee for this notice.

The notice requires:

• Whether you are seeking electronic notarization approval, remote notarization approval, or both
• The legal name of each approved technology provider you intend to use
• Your training certificate of completion from each selected provider
• A high-resolution exemplar of your official electronic signature
• An exemplar of your official electronic stamp
• A signed certification confirming you have read and understand Title 4, Chapter 39 and Chapter 700 rules

You cannot perform any remote online notarizations until you receive formal written approval from the Secretary of State. Do not schedule RON sessions based on filing the notice — wait for the approval.

Operational Rules Once Approved

Your physical location matters. During a remote notarization session, you must be physically located within the geographic boundaries of Maine. The signer can be anywhere — another state or even outside the United States — but you must be in Maine.

Journal is mandatory. Unlike traditional paper notarizations where a journal is recommended but optional, RON transactions require a secure, tamper-evident electronic journal. You must retain journal records for at least 10 years from the date of the last recorded notarial act.

Session recording is mandatory. Your approved platform must continuously record the audio-visual session — the entire thing, from identity verification through the signing. These recordings must also be retained for at least 10 years.

Identity proofing uses multiple factors. The platform performs automated credential analysis of the signer's government-issued photo ID plus knowledge-based authentication (KBA), where the signer answers personal security questions generated from public record databases within a time limit.

Changing or Adding Providers

If you switch approved platforms or add a new one, you must submit an updated Notice to Perform — including new training certificates and updated exemplars — to the Secretary of State within 10 business days of making the change.

If your traditional notary commission expires, is suspended, or is revoked, your RON authorization is immediately terminated.

For the complete registration sequence — from traditional commission through RON approval — the How to Become a Notary in Maine guide covers every filing requirement and platform consideration.

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