Maryland requires something most other states don't: a State Senator's endorsement on your application. This adds a political wrinkle to the process but keeps costs very low. Total startup is under $80 for most applicants.
Under Md. Code, State Government Article § 18-101 et seq., the eligibility requirements are:
Maryland has one of the lowest total notary startup costs in the country — under $80 for most applicants. The Senator endorsement is the unusual part of the process but doesn't cost anything.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $10–$11 |
| Circuit Court oath of office fee | Required | $11 |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $15–$35 |
| Mandatory journal | Required | $10–$25 |
| Surety bond | Not required | $0 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| Written exam | Not required | $0 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $46–$82 |
Maryland notaries have UNLIMITED personal liability on every notarization. Without a bond and without mandatory E&O insurance, you're personally on the hook for any damages from errors or misconduct. E&O insurance is strongly recommended despite being optional — one mistake can be financially devastating without it.
The Senator endorsement is the unique step — the rest is standard.
Find your State Senator by your residential address (or work address if you're a non-resident employee) at mgaleg.maryland.gov. You'll need their endorsement on your application.
Download the application from the Maryland Secretary of State website (sos.maryland.gov/Notary). Fill it out completely with your personal info, address, and employment details.
Contact your State Senator's office and request their endorsement signature on your application. Most Senators have a simple process for this — typically email or fax the form to their office.
Submit the completed and endorsed application with the application fee to the MD Secretary of State. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Once approved, you'll receive an email notifying you to appear before your Circuit Court Clerk within 30 days.
Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court for your county (or Baltimore City). Pay the $11 oath/filing fee, take the oath of office, and receive your commission certificate.
Maryland notaries are authorized to perform these acts under SG §18-101 et seq.:
Maryland uses a mileage-based fee structure (one of the few states that does):
DC metro area (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville) and Baltimore are the highest-volume markets. The federal employee population and high real estate transaction volume make Maryland a strong mobile notary market — particularly for clearance forms, military documents, and high-end real estate.
Maryland authorized remote online notarization in 2020 during COVID, made permanent in 2021. To perform RON in MD:
Your Maryland commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal requires the same Senator endorsement process as the initial application.
The Secretary of State typically sends a renewal application 2 months before your expiration. You'll need a fresh Senator endorsement, submit the application with the $6 reapplication fee (lower than the initial $10), and appear at Circuit Court within 30 days of notification to take a new oath. Miss the 30-day window and your commission lapses.
Maryland's notary commissioning process treats notaries as quasi-political appointments — a colonial-era artifact preserved in current law. The Senator endorsement signals legislative support for your character and qualifications. In practice, most Senator offices have a simple email-based endorsement process and approve nearly all qualified applicants.
You don't need to know them personally. Find your Senator at mgaleg.maryland.gov by entering your address. Their office has a Notary Endorsement Request form (usually a simple template). Email or fax your completed application with a brief cover note requesting endorsement. Most return endorsements within 1-2 weeks.
Very serious. Maryland doesn't require a bond, so there's no $10K-$25K cap protecting you from damages. If you negligently notarize a fraudulent document and someone loses $200,000 because of it, you're personally liable for the full amount. This is why E&O insurance is strongly recommended — get at least $25,000 in coverage.
Anywhere in Maryland. Your commission is statewide, not county-specific.
Maryland's fee schedule hasn't been updated significantly in decades. The state subsidizes notary commissioning as a public service. This is genuinely cheap — most states charge $25-$120 for the application alone.
Yes, as long as you're physically present in Maryland (or doing RON from Maryland). Military bases within Maryland (Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Naval Air Station Patuxent River) are within MD jurisdiction for notary purposes.
Maryland's low startup costs and DC-metro adjacency make it attractive for mobile notaries serving federal employees, real estate transactions, and security clearance documents. The Senator endorsement is the only unusual step. We're recruiting founding-cohort Maryland notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
Apply to Smoothquill →Founding cohort · 10 spots · $10 flat platform fee for life