Yes, you can use an online notary public in Maryland. Maryland law lets a notary located in the state perform remote notarial acts over live audio-video technology, and the Maryland Secretary of State caps a remote notarial act at $30. Maryland signers can also use a remote online notary commissioned in another state. Either way, the session is recorded, your identity is verified, and the notary attaches an electronic certificate to your document.
This guide explains the Maryland rules that apply, what an online notary service costs, how a session works, and when an in-person notary is still the better choice.
Is online notarization legal in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland authorizes remote notarial acts under State Government Article § 18-214, and the Secretary of State regulates the notaries and technology vendors involved. A Maryland notary must notify the Secretary before performing remote acts that require a vendor. The signer does not need to be in Maryland.
Maryland’s legislature expanded the remote notarization rules in 2022. The Department of Legislative Services’ fiscal note for SB 317 describes the bill as specifying when a notary public located in the state may use communication technology, including rules for remote acts on tangible (paper) records and for administering oaths to remotely located individuals.
The Maryland Secretary of State’s Notary Division runs the program. Its page links a list of authorized remote online notary vendors and two remote notary notification forms: one for acts that require a vendor (electronic records) and one for tangible-record acts where the notary identifies the signer by personal knowledge or a credible witness.
What is the difference between remote and electronic notarization?
Electronic notarization means the document, signatures, and notarial certificate are electronic. Remote online notarization (RON) means the signer appears before the notary over live two-way audio and video. Most online sessions are both. In-person electronic notarization (IPEN) is different: the signer and notary are in the same room but use electronic documents.
Maryland’s notification forms reflect this. A remote act on an electronic record uses an authorized vendor platform, while Maryland also permits some remote acts on paper records when the notary can identify the signer without a vendor’s identity-proofing tools.
How much does an online notary cost in Maryland?
Maryland caps the fee a notary may charge for a remote notarial act at $30, and for a standard in-person act at $8, effective January 22, 2024, according to the Secretary of State. Platforms set their own customer prices within the rules that apply to their notaries. BlueNotary lists $25 for one notarization with one stamp.
| Fee item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum fee, remote notarial act by a Maryland notary | $30 | Maryland Secretary of State |
| Maximum fee, original in-person notarial act | $8 | Maryland Secretary of State |
| BlueNotary notarization with one stamp | $25 | BlueNotary fee schedule |
| BlueNotary additional stamp | $8 | BlueNotary fee schedule |
| BlueNotary additional signer | $5 | BlueNotary fee schedule |
Maryland’s caps apply to Maryland-commissioned notaries. If your notary is commissioned in another state, that state’s fee rules apply to the notarial act instead. Either way, ask for the full price, including extra stamps or signers, before you begin.
What rules protect a Maryland online notarization?
Maryland requires identity verification, an audio-visual recording kept for at least 10 years, and technology from a vendor that meets state criteria. The certificate must show that the act involved a remotely located individual. These safeguards are what make a remote act reliable enough for lenders, courts, and agencies to accept.
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Authorizing law | State Government Article § 18-214 governs remote notarial acts | SB 317 fiscal note |
| Notary location | The notary is located in Maryland; you can be anywhere | SB 317 fiscal note |
| Identity | The notary identifies you by personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, which for vendor sessions includes ID checks | COMAR 01.02.08.04 |
| Recording | The session’s audio-visual recording is retained for at least 10 years | COMAR 01.02.08.04 |
| Vendors | Vendors must be incorporated in the U.S., and all encryption and decryption services must occur in the U.S. | COMAR 01.02.08.04 |
| Notary authorization | The notary files a remote notary notification with the Secretary of State | Maryland Secretary of State |
Can a Maryland notary certify a copy of a document?
Only in a narrow case. According to the National Notary Association, Maryland notaries may certify copies only of entries in their own notary journals. If you need a certified copy of a vital record or court document, order it from the issuing office. For private documents, ask whether a notarized statement by the document holder is acceptable.
How do you notarize documents online in Maryland?
The process runs in a browser or on a phone and usually takes one sitting. You upload the document, verify your identity, meet the notary on live video, sign electronically, and download the notarized file. The steps below apply whether the notary is commissioned in Maryland or elsewhere.
- Check acceptance. Ask the receiving party whether it accepts remote online notarization and whether it requires a Maryland-commissioned notary.
- Prepare the document. Keep it unsigned. BlueNotary accepts PDF, DOCX, and common image formats up to 30 MB, according to its document requirements page.
- Verify your identity. Scan a current government-issued photo ID and complete the identity questions or biometric check.
- Meet the notary on video. The notary confirms your identity and that you are signing willingly, and administers an oath if the document requires one.
- Sign and download. You sign electronically, the notary adds an electronic signature, seal, and certificate, and the session recording is retained under the applicable rules.
BlueNotary explains the platform side of each step in its guide to how online notarization works.
Preparation checklist before your session
- ID: Unexpired government-issued photo ID with a clear photo.
- Device: A camera, microphone, and stable internet connection.
- Document: The complete, final version, with blanks filled in except signatures.
- Other signers: Email addresses for anyone who must sign in the same session.
- Witnesses: If a witness is required, arrange your own or request one; BlueNotary lists witness service at $10.
- Receiving party rules: Any instructions on format, certificate wording, or delivery.
When should you use an in-person notary in Maryland instead?
Use an in-person notary when the receiving party requires a wet-ink signature, a paper original with an ink seal, or a notary who meets a requirement an online session cannot. Also go in person when you are unsure whether a remote act fits a specific estate, court, or real estate document and cannot confirm in advance.
| Situation | Online notary | In-person notary |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit, authorization, or business form | Usually a good fit | Works, but requires a visit |
| Signers in different locations | Strong fit; everyone joins remotely | Difficult to coordinate |
| Receiving party requires ink signatures or paper originals | Not suitable | Required |
| Document headed abroad | Check apostille and embassy rules first | Check apostille and embassy rules first |
| After-hours or weekend need | Often available | Depends on local availability |
If you are a Maryland notary interested in performing remote acts yourself, BlueNotary’s guide to becoming a remote online notary in every state covers the Maryland requirements alongside other states.
Questions about your Maryland document? Email the BlueNotary team at [email protected] before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can an online notary public in another state notarize my Maryland document?
Often, yes. The notary follows their own commissioning state’s law, and you can join from Maryland. Whether the result is accepted depends on the receiving party, so confirm with the lender, court, agency, or company before signing.
How much can a Maryland notary charge for a remote notarization?
Up to $30 per remote notarial act, and up to $8 for an original in-person act, effective January 22, 2024, according to the Maryland Secretary of State. Platforms may price differently when their notaries are commissioned elsewhere.
How long is a Maryland remote notarization recording kept?
Maryland’s vendor regulations require technology that allows the audio-visual recording to be retained for at least 10 years and gives the notary access to it. That record can help resolve later questions about the notarization.
Do I have to be in Maryland during the session?
No. Maryland’s rules focus on where the notary is located. You can join from home, work, another state, or abroad, subject to any restrictions where you are and the receiving party’s acceptance.
Can I get a Maryland birth certificate certified by an online notary?
No. Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records, and Maryland notaries may certify copies only of their own journal entries. Order a certified birth certificate from the Maryland vital records office instead.
Ready to notarize your Maryland document? Start your online notarization with BlueNotary and connect with a commissioned notary on live video.
