Maine notary exam practice questions

New to the process? Start with how to become a notary in Maine.

1. What is the minimum age for a Maine notary commission?

   1. 19
   2. 18
   3. 25
   4. 21
   Show the answer

   B. 18

   Course of Study; 4 M.R.S. 1922(2).

   Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

2. Which applicant can qualify without living in Maine?

   1. One who held a notary commission in New Hampshire
   2. One with a place of employment or business in Maine
   3. No one; Maine residence is required for all notaries
   4. One who owns a summer camp or vacation home in Maine
   Show the answer

   B. One with a place of employment or business in Maine

   Course of Study; FAQ.

   Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

3. Which language requirement applies?

   1. Able to speak English and French
   2. Able to read English only
   3. Able to read and write English
   4. No language requirement
   Show the answer

   C. Able to read and write English

   Course of Study; FAQ.

   Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

4. How is an application for a new Maine commission filed?

   1. On the paper application, delivered to the Secretary of State
   2. Online through Total Notary Solution, with no paper forms at all
   3. By phone with the Secretary of State's notary staff
   4. At a town office, which forwards it to the county
   Show the answer

   A. On the paper application, delivered to the Secretary of State

   FAQ; Apply/Renew page: new applications cannot be submitted online.

   Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

5. What is the fee for a Maine notary commission?

   1. $25
   2. $50
   3. $75
   4. $100
   Show the answer

   B. $50

   FAQ; 5 M.R.S. 87.

   Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

6. How may the application fee be paid?

   1. By money order made out to the county clerk of courts
   2. In cash only, at the town office in person
   3. By check to "Treasurer, State of Maine" or by card
   4. By payroll deduction through the employer
   Show the answer

   C. By check to "Treasurer, State of Maine" or by card

   FAQ.

   Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

7. How long is a Maine notary commission?

   1. 5 years
   2. 10 years
   3. 7 years
   4. 4 years
   Show the answer

   C. 7 years

   FAQ; 4 M.R.S. 1922(4).

   Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

8. Where may a Maine notary perform notarial acts?

   1. Anywhere in Maine, but not outside it
   2. Only in the notary's county
   3. Anywhere in New England
   4. Anywhere in the world, if acting remotely
   Show the answer

   A. Anywhere in Maine, but not outside it

   Course of Study, Jurisdiction.

   Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

9. What does an acknowledgment declare?

   1. That the notary has checked the record for legal errors and omissions
   2. That the copy is a full, true and accurate copy of the original record
   3. That every statement in the record is true, under penalty of perjury
   4. That the individual signed the record for the purpose stated in it
   Show the answer

   D. That the individual signed the record for the purpose stated in it

   Course of Study, Acknowledgment.

   Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

10. An agent signs for a company. What else does the agent declare in the acknowledgment?

    1. That the company is in good standing
    2. Nothing more is needed
    3. That the record was drafted or reviewed by a lawyer
    4. That the agent signed with proper authority
    Show the answer

    D. That the agent signed with proper authority

    Course of Study, Acknowledgment.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

11. What is personal knowledge as a way to identify a signer?

    1. The notary recognizes the signer's name from the newspaper
    2. The signer's employer confirms identity by a phone call
    3. The signer tells the notary a name and date of birth
    4. The notary personally knows the signer's identity
    Show the answer

    D. The notary personally knows the signer's identity

    Course of Study, Identification.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

12. Which ID is satisfactory evidence of identity in Maine?

    1. A credit card, a store loyalty card or a library card
    2. A birth certificate and a Social Security card together
    3. A passport, driver's license or government-issued nondriver ID
    4. A utility bill and a bank statement that both show the same address
    Show the answer

    C. A passport, driver's license or government-issued nondriver ID

    Course of Study; 4 M.R.S. 1907.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

13. For which person may a Maine notary NOT notarize?

    1. The notary's step-sibling
    2. The notary's neighbor
    3. The notary's coworker
    4. The notary's landlord
    Show the answer

    A. The notary's step-sibling

    Course of Study; FAQ: spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child, in-law, step or half relative.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

14. What counts as a direct beneficial interest under 4 M.R.S. 1904(3)(B)?

    1. Living in the same town as one of the parties named in the record being notarized
    2. A fee beyond the customary notarial fee, or any advantage, property or other consideration tied to the record
    3. Being employed by a company that sometimes does business with the person who is signing the record in front of the notary
    4. Any notarial fee at all, even the notary's usual fee disclosed and agreed to in writing
    Show the answer

    B. A fee beyond the customary notarial fee, or any advantage, property or other consideration tied to the record

    Course of Study.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

15. When is the notarial certificate executed?

    1. At the time of the notarial act
    2. When the record is recorded
    3. Whenever the signer asks
    4. Within 30 days after the act is recorded
    Show the answer

    A. At the time of the notarial act

    FAQ.

    Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

16. Which set of items must every Maine notarial certificate show?

    1. Signature, date, jurisdiction, title, printed name and commission expiration date
    2. Only the notary's signature and stamp, with no other wording needed
    3. The record's page count, the notary's county, a thumbprint and a witness name
    4. The signer's ID number, the fee charged, the time of day and the notary's street address
    Show the answer

    A. Signature, date, jurisdiction, title, printed name and commission expiration date

    FAQ; Course of Study, Certificates.

    Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

17. Does Maine set notarial fees by statute?

    1. No
    2. Yes, $10 per signature
    3. Yes, $5 per act
    4. Yes, $2 per page
    Show the answer

    A. No

    Course of Study, Fees.

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

18. Before charging any fee, a Maine notary must:

    1. Disclose it in writing before the act and have the person agree
    2. Collect it in cash and give a receipt after the act is done
    3. Post it on the Secretary of State's website for public review
    4. Get the fee approved by a Dedimus Justice in the notary's county
    Show the answer

    A. Disclose it in writing before the act and have the person agree

    Course of Study; Rules ch. 700, sec. 2(5)(E).

    Source: Maine Notary Public Course of Study (maine.gov/sos)

19. When did Maine adopt RULONA?

    1. July 1, 2019
    2. January 1, 2020
    3. January 1, 2025
    4. July 1, 2023
    Show the answer

    D. July 1, 2023

    FAQ; Course of Study.

    Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

20. What must a notary do before performing remote or electronic notarizations?

    1. Pass a second written exam at the Secretary of State's main office in Augusta
    2. Nothing; any commissioned notary may begin remote acts right away
    3. Buy a $25,000 bond and record it with the county register of deeds
    4. File the Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Notarizations and get approval
    Show the answer

    D. File the Notice to Perform Electronic and/or Remote Notarizations and get approval

    FAQ; Course of Study.

    Source: Notaries Public FAQ, Maine Secretary of State (maine.gov/sos)

Unofficial practice questions written from the public sources named under each answer. They are not the state's exam, are not affiliated with the State of Maine, and are not legal advice. Rules change, so check the commissioning office's current materials.