Online notarization in Maryland: Get your document notarized today

Yes. Notaries who are commissioned to practice online can perform Remote Online Notarization (RON) services in Maryland.

Remote Online Notarization In Maryland was signed into law with Senate Bill 678, permanently taking effect in October, 2020. Remote online notaries in Maryland must hold a current traditional notary commission and contract with a RON technology provider.

In the state of Maryland, commissioned notaries may charge a notary fee of up to $4 per notarial act performed. When it comes to online notary services, Maryland allows remote notaries to charge up to $25 per remote notarial act to cover their costs and expenses.

When it comes to notarizing a document in the state of Maryland, there are several requirements you must adhere to at the time of notarization.

Prior to signing, all relevant signing parties will need to provide some form of identification verification for the notary. To ensure the validity and integrity of your notarization, PandaDoc Notary takes security a step further and verifies signers identities through credential analysis or knowledge-based authentication (KBA) processes.

The state of Maryland allows individuals to notarize their important documents before an actively commissioned notary public as long as all signers can verify their identity.

In Maryland, you have the freedom to choose between the convenience of online notary services or traditional walk-in or mobile notary services. Documents notarized with in-person wet-ink signatures will be accepted as legally valid in all 50 states, as will electronic eSignatures.

Yes. Online notarial acts performed in Maryland will generally be recognized by other states, including ones that have not yet adopted RON law. While the specifics may vary depending on the other state’s requirements, established precedents have set forth that notarial acts carried out within compliance with the applicable state RON law can be recognized as valid across state lines

No, the great thing about RON is that it allows you to notarize documents quickly from wherever they are located. As long as you have access to a computer with audio-visual capabilities and a secure internet connection, you can continue to take advantage of the range of helpful services that PandaDoc Notary has on offer.

In Maryland, you have the option to choose between using a traditional walk-in or mobile notary, or notarizing their documents remotely online.

If you choose to notarize your document with an in-person notary, you will have to plan ahead and schedule a time and place to meet with the notary, otherwise you risk major delays. With a traditional notary, the signers  and notary alike will physically apply their “wet ink” signature to the document. Once this is complete, a binding seal will be applied by the notary.

On the other hand, if you choose to notarize your document using Remote Online Notarization (RON), you can enjoy the convenience of appearing before a state-commissioned notary within minutes from the comfort of your own home. Using a two-way audio visual connection, you will appear virtually before the notary and apply a digital signature to the document, in addition to the notary’s digital seal.

Prior to signing the document, all signing parties are required to verify that they are who they say they are by providing some form of valid identification. These forms of ID can include:

• The notary personally knows the signer and can confirm their identity.
• Presenting a government-issued ID.
• U.S. Social Security Card
• Using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) to verify the signer’s identity.

In Maryland, remote online notaries are authorized to carry out all the same notarial acts a traditional notary is.

In Maryland, remote notaries are authorized to perform the following types of notarial acts:

• Taking acknowledgments: An official acknowledgment from a signer to a notary that a document has been willingly signed.
• Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument: A notary officially notes that a bill or note related to the transaction has been dishonored and that the terms are being protested.
• Witnessing signatures: A notary appears to verify the identity of a document signer and witness the signing.
• Taking verification on an oath or affirmation: A notary witnesses an oath or affirmation that the contents of the document being signed are true.
• Certifying a copy of a record: A notary certifies that a copy of a document is true and accurate.
• Administering an oath or affirmation: A solemn promise of truthfulness by a signer or witness.

When you are in Maryland and need to have your documents notarized quickly and securely, remote notarization offers businesses and individuals flexible solutions that allow them to bypass the drawn out process of dealing with a traditional notary.

Those who notarize their documents online with a RON provider, such as PandaDoc Notary, enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that their documents were notarized accurately and are stored safely and securely should you ever need to reference them.