Maryland Notary Requirements and E&O Insurance

Is a notary bond required in Maryland?

No. Maryland does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. The Notary Division of the Secretary of State administers commissions under Title 18 of the State Government Article, and the new-applicant process centers on an approved course of study, an examination, and a review of the application — not a bond.

Maryland’s process is distinctive because of its legislative review step. After a new applicant submits the application, the applicant’s State Senator (or the Secretary of State, if the Senator has delegated authority) reviews it and may contact the applicant’s references before a determination to approve or deny is made. This screening — rather than a bond — is how Maryland vets applicants.

Fees for the notarial acts themselves are set by statute and regulation. Effective January 22, 2024, a notary may charge no more than $8 for an original notarial act and no more than $30 for a remote notarial act, with lesser amounts for additional copies.

How to become a notary in Maryland

1. Confirm eligibility and review the Notary Handbook (a $30 purchase through the Secretary of State’s order form).
2. Complete an authorized course of study and pass the required examination (required for new applicants).
3. Complete the application and submit it with the $25 application fee (changed from the prior $9 + $2 service charge on January 22, 2024).
4. Await review by your State Senator or the Secretary of State, who may contact your references before approving or denying the application.
5. Once approved and commissioned, obtain your stamp/seal and begin performing notarial acts within the limits set by Maryland law.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Maryland

Because Maryland requires no bond, the only optional financial-protection product is errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O coverage is not required by the state; it protects the notary’s own finances against claims and legal-defense costs arising from honest mistakes made in the course of notarizing. A notary who wants that protection can carry it, but neither a bond nor E&O insurance is a condition of obtaining or keeping a Maryland commission.

Renewing your Maryland commission

A Maryland commission runs four years, and the Secretary of State administers a staggered system for expiration and renewal under §18-103. Currently commissioned notaries follow the Secretary of State’s renewal-applicant process, which differs from the new-applicant path. Renewing notaries should confirm current course, exam, and fee requirements with the Notary Division before the term expires so the commission does not lapse.

Remote online notarization in Maryland

Maryland authorizes remote notarial acts, and the statutory fee schedule distinguishes them from in-person acts by allowing up to $30 per remote notarial act. The Secretary of State’s Notary Division sets the registration and technology requirements for performing remote notarizations; confirm the current process and any additional authorization with the Notary Division before notarizing remotely.