Maryland Notary key terms

A formal act a notary is legally authorized to perform, such as taking an acknowledgment, administering an oath or affirmation, witnessing a signature, or certifying a copy, each governed by specific statutory requirements.

A notarial act in which the signer personally appears, is identified, and declares to the notary that the signature on the document is their own and was made voluntarily for the stated purpose.

A notarial certificate in which the notary administers an oath or affirmation and certifies that the signer swore to or affirmed the truth of the document's contents, requiring the signer's personal appearance.

A spoken pledge to a higher power or to one's own conscience that a statement is true or a duty will be performed; the notary administers it and records that it was given.

A written statement of facts signed by the affiant and confirmed under oath or affirmation before a notary, commonly used as sworn testimony in legal and administrative proceedings.

The completed wording attached to or endorsed on a document that states what notarial act was performed, the date, the venue, and the notary's signature, title, and commission expiration.

The identification standard a notary must meet before acting, typically a government-issued photo ID that is current or recently expired, plus the notary's own judgment that the person matches it.

The requirement that the signer be physically present before the notary for traditional acts, or present by live audio-video for remote acts, so the notary can identify and observe them.

A person who personally knows the signer and, when permitted identification methods fail, swears to the signer's identity before the notary, allowing the act to proceed without documentary ID.

A notarial act in which the notary certifies that a photocopy or duplicate is a true, complete, and accurate reproduction of an original document examined by the notary.

A notarial act in which the notary observes a person sign a document and then certifies that the signer appeared, was identified, and signed in the notary's presence.

A formal notarial declaration, typically used for negotiable instruments, that a demanded payment or acceptance was refused, prepared with notice to the parties involved.

The official impression or inked stamp containing the notary's name, commission status, and required identifying information that authenticates each paper notarial certificate.

The duty to keep the notary stamp in the notary's exclusive custody and control, never allowing another person to use it, and to report its loss, theft, or misuse promptly.

A permanent, chronological record in which the notary logs each act, including date, type of act, document description, signer name and address, and identification method used.

The rule that the notary journal remains the notary's property, must be safeguarded during and after the commission, and must be retained for a defined period after the last entry.

The practice of numbering or recording journal entries in unbroken order without blank spaces or removed pages, so the record cannot be altered or backfilled without detection.

The specific data elements each entry must capture, such as time, act type, signer identity verification, fee charged, and signature or thumbprint where the law requires it.

The statutory ceiling a notary may charge per notarial act or certificate, which cannot be exceeded and which must be disclosed to the customer before the act is performed.

The compensation a notary is permitted to collect for performing notarial acts, limited by statute and distinct from charges for travel, waiting time, or other non-notarial services.

The notary's obligation to tell the signer, before performing the act, what the notarial charge will be and to collect no more than the statutory maximum for that act.

Conduct such as charging more than the legal cap, splitting fees with unlicensed parties, or conditioning a required notarial act on an unrelated payment, all of which can trigger discipline.

Separate charges a notary may impose for traveling to a signer's location, usually calculated per mile or as a flat trip fee and disclosed in advance apart from the notarial fee.

A charge for time spent at a signing location beyond an agreed appointment window, which is not a notarial fee and must be disclosed and agreed to before it accrues.

A notarial act performed when the signer appears before the notary by live audio-video technology, with identity proofing and recording requirements that substitute for physical presence.

A technology provider approved by the state to supply the audio-video, identity proofing, e-signature, and record-keeping platform a notary must use for remote notarizations.

The credential analysis and knowledge-based verification steps used in remote notarization to confirm a signer's identity when the notary is not physically present to inspect a document.

The requirement to record each remote notarial session and preserve the recording for a set period, with access limited to authorized parties such as the notary and regulators.

A digital stamp or signature image attached to an electronic notarial certificate that meets state format requirements and is bound to the electronic document it authenticates.

The official appointment by the state that authorizes a person to perform notarial acts for a fixed term, subject to application, qualification, and continuing compliance with the law.

The formal submission of required information, qualifications, endorsements, and fees by a person seeking appointment as a notary, subject to review and approval by the commissioning authority.

The statutory conditions an applicant must satisfy, such as minimum age, residency or employment status, good moral character, and completion of any required training or examination.

A surety instrument some jurisdictions require as a condition of commissioning, protecting the public from losses caused by a notary's official misconduct up to a stated amount.

The fixed period a notary appointment lasts and the process of reapplying before it expires, including any required training, bond, or application updates.

The notary's duty to notify the commissioning authority within a set time after a legal name change or change of address, often requiring updated documentation or a new stamp.

The required return or destruction of the notary stamp and related records when a commission ends, is resigned, or is revoked, preventing further use of official authority.