Maine notary commission
Maine notary public: a paper exam, a Dedimus Justice and seven years
Study the Secretary of State's free Course of Study, then complete the paper application, which includes the exam, and send it with the $50 fee. Once appointed, take the oath before a Dedimus Justice within 30 days and return the certificate of qualification within 45 days. A Maine commission lasts seven years and, since July 2023, no longer includes performing marriages.
Who Maine commissions
- 18 or older (4 M.R.S. 1922(2)).
- A Maine resident, or with a place of employment or business in Maine. Nonresident employees need their employer to sign the certification on the application.
- Able to read and write English.
- No conviction for a disqualifying offense or a crime punishable by one year or more, no finding of fraud, dishonesty or deceit, and no commission revoked, suspended or not renewed for cause in any state.
- A passing exam, printed on the application (4 M.R.S. 1923).
Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State; 4 M.R.S. chapter 39.
Course of Study to Dedimus Justice
- Study the Course of Study. The Secretary of State's free PDF covers laws, rules, procedures and ethics. The exam is based on it.
- Complete the paper application. New commissions can't be applied for online. The form includes the exam: 15 questions and an 8-term matching section.
- Send it with the $50 fee. Check to Treasurer, State of Maine, or by card. Processing takes 15 to 20 business days.
- Take the oath before a Dedimus Justice. Within 30 calendar days of appointment (4 M.R.S. 1922(3)). The Secretary of State's website has a search tool to find one near you.
- Return the certificate of qualification. Within 45 calendar days of appointment. If it's late, you get a failure-to-qualify notice and 90 days to ask for reappointment.
Source: Apply/Renew a Notary, Maine Secretary of State; 4 M.R.S. chapter 39.
Maine costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission application | $50 Set by 5 M.R.S. 87. Check to Treasurer, State of Maine, or card. |
| Course of Study | $0 A free PDF from the Secretary of State. |
| Bond | None described The Secretary of State's pages and chapter 39 describe no bond. |
| Stamp | Vendor price Optional for in-person paper acts; required for electronic and remote acts. |
| Bound journal | Vendor price Optional for in-person paper acts; required for electronic and remote acts. |
The state's charge is $50 for seven years. Supplies are optional for paper-only notaries, though the Secretary of State strongly suggests both.
Source: 5 M.R.S. 87; Apply/Renew a Notary.
ME starter kit · $29
Maine Notary Starter Kit
Maine's Course of Study, paper exam, $50 fee and Dedimus Justice steps, the written fee disclosure rule, ID and relative rules, journal and stamp rules for paper and remote acts, remote approval, the required notice, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Seven years, renewed online
A Maine commission lasts seven years (4 M.R.S. 1922(4)). Renewals take the exam online through Total Notary Solution; you print the oath form after paying, take it to a Dedimus Justice, and mail the signed exam and oath back.
Report changes within 30 calendar days; a name change also needs the Change of Signature form. Once you're active, your name, town, phone number and email are posted publicly, but not your street address.
Source: Notaries Public FAQ; 4 M.R.S. chapter 39.
Remote notarization in Maine, after approval
Maine notaries may notarize remotely only after Secretary of State approval. File the Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Notarizations, listing your approved technology providers and their training certifications, certifying that you've read chapter 39 and the rules, with samples of your electronic signature and stamp. Zoom, FaceTime and similar software aren't allowed.
You must be physically in Maine (4 M.R.S. 1915). Record the session and keep the recording at least 10 years. Remote notarization isn't allowed for certain election acts, such as absentee ballot witnessing and specified petition and candidate oaths, or for solemnizing marriages.
Source: 4 M.R.S. chapter 39; Notaries Public FAQ.
No fee schedule, and no more weddings
Maine doesn't set notarial fees by statute. Under Rules Chapter 700, section 2(5)(E), any fee must be disclosed in writing before the act and the person must agree to it, and you record it in your journal (4 M.R.S. 1920(3)).
Since July 1, 2023, a Maine notary commission no longer carries authority to solemnize marriages; that takes a separate Marriage Officiant license (5 M.R.S. 90-G). Don't act for your spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child, in-law, or step or half relative, and don't certify copies of public or vital records.
Source: Notaries Public FAQ; 4 M.R.S. chapter 39.
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Maine notary questions
What is a Dedimus Justice?
A separate Maine office whose job includes swearing in notaries. You take your oath before one within 30 days of appointment.
What is on the Maine notary exam?
It's printed on the paper application: 15 questions and an 8-term matching section, based on the Secretary of State's Course of Study.
Can a Maine notary perform a wedding?
Not since July 1, 2023. That takes a separate Marriage Officiant license.
How long is a Maine notary commission?
Seven years (4 M.R.S. 1922(4)).
Can I apply for a new Maine commission online?
No. New commissions use the paper application with the exam. Renewals are online.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Maine sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Maine Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Maine.