200+ Free Maryland Notary Practice Questions
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Key Facts: Maryland Notary Exam
4 years
Commission Term
State Government Article, Title 18 (Md. Annotated Code)
$0
Required Surety Bond
Maryland SOS Notary Division (no bond required)
$8 / $30
Max Fee: Original Act / Remote Act
COMAR 01.02.08.02 (effective 1/22/2024)
10 years
Journal & AV-Recording Retention
State Government Article, Sec. 18-214 and 18-219
Oct 1, 2020
Remote Online Notarization Authorized
State Government Article, Sec. 18-214
30 days
Deadline to Take Oath Before Clerk
Maryland SOS Notary FAQ
A Maryland notary commission runs for 4 years and requires no surety bond. New applicants must complete a Secretary of State-approved course of study and pass an examination, then take the oath before the Clerk of the Circuit Court ($11 fee) within 30 days. Maximum fees are $8 per original notarial act and $30 per remote act (effective 1/22/2024), and notaries must keep a journal for 10 years.
Sample Maryland Notary Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Maryland Notary exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which Maryland official appoints and commissions notaries public, and through which division are commissions administered?
2How long is a Maryland notary public commission valid?
3What is the minimum age to be commissioned as a notary public in Maryland?
4Effective October 1, 2021, what must all NEW Maryland notary applicants complete before being commissioned?
5Does Maryland require a notary public to obtain and file a surety bond?
6After a Maryland notary application is approved by the Governor, where must the new notary go to take the oath of office and receive the commission?
7Within how many days of the commission's issue date must a Maryland notary appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to be sworn in?
8What fee does a new Maryland notary pay the Clerk of the Circuit Court when taking the oath of office?
9Which body must endorse a Maryland resident's notary application before the Governor appoints the applicant?
10Can a person who lives outside Maryland become a Maryland notary public?
About the Maryland Notary Exam
The Maryland Notary Public commission authorizes you to perform notarial acts anywhere in Maryland after appointment by the Governor through the Secretary of State's Notary Division. Maryland law is governed by State Government Article, Title 18 and COMAR 01.02.08, modernized in 2020-2021 to add new certificate forms, a mandatory journal, and remote online notarization.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
No centralized state exam; approved-provider course and examination timing varies
Passing Score
Set by the Secretary of State-approved course/exam provider; no statewide passing score is published
Exam Fee
About $11 paid to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the oath of office and commission; the course of study and examination are purchased separately from approved providers. (Maryland Secretary of State, Notary Division (commissions appointed by the Governor; oath administered by the Clerk of the Circuit Court))
Maryland Notary Exam Content Outline
Qualifications, Commissioning & Renewal
Age and residency/employment eligibility, state senator endorsement, Governor appointment, the 4-year term, oath before the Clerk of the Circuit Court within 30 days, the October 2021 course/exam requirement, and the 60-day-before / 30-day-after renewal window.
Authorized Notarial Acts & Certificate Wording
The six authorized acts (acknowledgments, oaths/affirmations, verifications/jurats, witnessing signatures, copy certifications, protests), the acknowledgment-vs-jurat distinction, and Maryland short-form certificate language and required elements.
Identification & Personal Appearance
The personal-appearance rule, the three identification methods (personal knowledge, satisfactory evidence, credible witness), signature-by-direction, signing by mark, and refusing acts for incompetency or duress.
Journal, Stamp & Statutory Fees
The mandatory journal (formerly the fair register), 10-year retention, contemporaneous entries, stamping-device elements and disposal, and the fee schedule ($8 original, $30 remote, $4 additional copy, $5 travel plus IRS mileage).
Remote & Electronic Notarization
RON authorized October 1, 2020, SOS notification and authorized vendors, identity proofing/credential analysis, 10-year AV-recording retention, the wills/trusts exclusion, and electronic notarization requiring physical presence.
Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline
Self/spouse conflict-of-interest rules, the unauthorized practice of law and 'notario publico' limits, grounds for revocation, and the duty to report a qualifying conviction within 10 days.
How to Pass the Maryland Notary Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Set by the Secretary of State-approved course/exam provider; no statewide passing score is published
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: No centralized state exam; approved-provider course and examination timing varies
- Exam fee: About $11 paid to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the oath of office and commission; the course of study and examination are purchased separately from approved providers.
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Maryland Notary Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland require a notary exam?
Maryland does not run a single statewide notary exam at government testing centers. Effective October 1, 2021, all new applicants must complete a Secretary of State-approved course of study and pass an examination administered by an approved provider, submitting certificates of completion and passing. Renewal applicants must complete the course of study.
How long is a Maryland notary commission valid?
A Maryland notary commission is valid for 4 years from the date you are sworn in by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, under State Government Article, Title 18. You may renew beginning 60 days before expiration and up to 30 days after; after that you must apply for a new commission.
Does Maryland require a notary surety bond?
No. Maryland does not require a notary surety bond. Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and recommended but not mandated. The main out-of-pocket costs are the $11 oath fee to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the approved course and exam, and your stamp and journal.
What are the maximum fees a Maryland notary can charge?
Effective January 22, 2024, a Maryland notary may charge up to $8 for an original in-person notarial act and up to $30 for a remote notarial act. Additional copies of the same record are $4 each per signature, photocopies are $2 each, and travel may be reimbursed at the IRS mileage rate plus a fee not to exceed $5.
Can Maryland notaries perform remote online notarizations (RON)?
Yes. Remote online notarization became legal in Maryland effective October 1, 2020. A notary must first hold a traditional commission, notify the Secretary of State of intent, and use an authorized communication-technology vendor with identity proofing and credential analysis. AV recordings must be kept 10 years, and wills and trust instruments may not be notarized remotely.
Does Maryland require a notary journal?
Yes. Maryland requires a journal (formerly called the 'fair register') of all notarial acts. Entries must be made contemporaneously, a tangible journal must be a permanent bound register with numbered pages, and the journal must be retained for 10 years after the last notarial act.