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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Maine commissions notaries for a seven-year term. Effective July 1, 2023, RULONA authorizes remote and electronic notarization, but only after the Secretary of State approves your notice. Do not perform a remote or electronic act until that approval is in hand.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Secretary of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as a Maine notary public, you must meet all of the following:
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Start Here: Commission, Then SOS Notice
File the $50 notary application and complete the exam and oath. Then submit the remote/electronic notice with provider training proof and an electronic stamp/signature sample.
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Read the official notary FAQ and remote page Open Notaries Public Frequently Asked Questions and Apply to Be a Remote/Electronic Notary. |
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File the Application for a Notary Public Commission Pay $50 to the Treasurer, State of Maine. The term is seven years. |
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If you already hold a Maine commission, file the remote/electronic notice before the first remote session Use Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Online Notarizations and wait for SOS approval. |
Part 1: Traditional Maine Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Maine notary public commission. You cannot perform remote notarization until the SOS also approves your notice.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to Notaries Public Frequently Asked Questions and 4 M.R.S. Chapter 39. |
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Complete traditional notary education Pass the Secretary of State examination based on the Course of Study. There is no separate SOS classroom-fee dollar amount listed on the FAQ beyond the $50 application. |
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Obtain a surety bond Not listed on the official SOS notary FAQ as a required surety bond. |
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Submit the traditional application File the application with $50 payable to the Treasurer, State of Maine. Check or credit/debit card is accepted as the FAQ describes. |
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Take the oath and receive the commission Complete the oath before a dedimus justice. The Secretary of State then issues the seven-year commission. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Submit the notice and receive SOS approval first. Use only an SOS-approved technology provider—not Zoom or FaceTime. A journal is required for all electronic and remote notarizations and must be retained 10 years after the last recorded act. The remotely located individual may be in another state or outside the United States.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Apply to Be a Remote/Electronic Notary, Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Online Notarizations, 4 M.R.S. Chapter 39, and Chapter 700. |
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Complete online notary education Complete the approved provider’s technology training. The SOS does not require an additional remote test. Attach each provider’s certification that you trained and were approved as a user. |
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Start the online commission application Complete Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Online Notarizations. Select electronic notarization, remote notarization, or both. Mail it to the Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. |
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Sign with a digital certificate Use only the approved provider you named. Notify the SOS within 10 business days if you change providers. |
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Upload your electronic seal Maine’s current process is a mailed notice with stamp/signature examples, not a portal upload. Follow the form. |
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Pay and submit Not listed as a separate dollar amount on the notice form reviewed for this checklist. Confirm any current notice fee with the Commissions office before you file. Do not perform remote acts until you receive SOS approval. |
After You Are Commissioned
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Approval of the notice is required before the first remote or electronic act. Traditional in-person paper notarization does not require a journal, though the SOS strongly suggests one.
Fees Listed by the Secretary of State
The $50 commission fee is from Notaries Public Frequently Asked Questions and 5 M.R.S. § 87. Confirm any remote-notice fee with the Commissions office. Provider training and platform costs are extra.
| Item | Listed amount |
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| Traditional examination / Course of Study | Included with the SOS examination process (no separate classroom dollar amount listed on the FAQ) |
| Provider technology training (RON/electronic) | Paid to the approved provider (amount not listed as an SOS course fee) |
| Traditional application | $50 (Treasurer, State of Maine) |
| Remote / electronic notice | Not listed as a separate dollar amount on the notice form; confirm with the Commissions office |
| Surety bond | Not listed on the official SOS notary FAQ as required |
Official Maine Links
| Resource | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Notaries Public FAQ | maine.gov/sos/.../notaries-public-frequently-asked-questions |
| Remote / electronic notary | maine.gov/sos/.../apply-to-be-a-remote-electronic-notary |
| Approved technology providers | maine.gov/sos/.../techproviders.pdf |
| Commissions | (207) 624-7752 | [email protected] |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: You need a notary public commission (or other notarial-officer status Maine recognizes) and SOS approval of the remote/electronic notice before any remote act. File the notice after you can attach provider training proof and electronic stamp/signature samples.
Q: Does Maine approve a list of RON platforms?
A: Yes. Use only a technology provider on the SOS approved list. Zoom and FaceTime are not allowed. The SOS does not endorse any provider.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use Notaries Public Frequently Asked Questions and Apply to Be a Remote/Electronic Notary.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
