A notary public is a public officer commissioned by the Maryland Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.
Under Md. Code, State Gov’t § 18-101, a Maryland notary may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, witness signatures, and perform other authorized notarial acts within the State.

Per COMAR 01.02.08.05, a notary must identify each signer through either:

• Personal knowledge of the individual, or

• Satisfactory evidence of identity, such as a current government-issued ID that includes a photo, physical description, and signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or state ID).

Expired IDs cannot be accepted unless issued within the past three (3) years and still bear a recognizable photograph, in accordance with Maryland Secretary of State guidance.

Maryland sets strict maximum fees.
Under Md. Code, State Gov’t § 18-112(b), the fee for a notarial act may not exceed $5 per notarized signature.

A notary may also charge a reasonable travel fee if:

1. The client agrees to it in advance, and

2. The travel fee is disclosed separately from the notarial fee.

(At Plourde Notary & Signing Services, travel fees are always discussed and confirmed before the appointment.)

Yes. Under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), as adopted in Maryland effective October 1, 2020, notaries commissioned in Maryland may perform Remote Online Notarizations. Authority: Md. Code, State Gov’t § 18-214 and COMAR 01.02.08.10.

Plourde Notary & Signing Services uses state-approved secure RON platforms that include multi-factor ID verification, credential analysis, and audiovisual recording, as required by law.

• Ensure you are physically located in Maryland during the signing (RON requires the signer to be within the state).

• Have a valid government-issued photo ID ready.

• Upload your document in PDF format.

• Join the secure video session from a computer or mobile device with a camera.

Each RON session is recorded and retained for at least ten (10) years per COMAR 01.02.08.10E(3).

No.

Under Md. Code, State Gov’t § 18-209, a notary public “is not authorized to practice law” and may not provide legal advice, interpret documents, or prepare legal instruments for clients.

All notarial acts are performed solely to verify identity and witness signatures — not to determine the legal effect of a document.
This restriction is also reflected in the mandatory disclosure required by COMAR 01.02.08.03C, which appears on every page of our website:

“I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, and I may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.”

An apostille certifies that a Maryland public document (such as a notarized affidavit, birth certificate, or academic transcript) is authentic and recognized in other countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. Only the Maryland Secretary of State may issue an apostille.

Plourde Notary & Signing Services assists clients by notarizing documents, preparing the submission package, and handling courier delivery to the Secretary of State for authentication.

Yes, provided that:

• The notarial certificate is in English, and

• You and the notary can communicate directly in a language you both understand.

Under COMAR 01.02.08.07, a notary must refuse a notarization if communication is inadequate to ensure understanding.
If the document itself is in another language, it does not invalidate the notarization.

Yes.

Plourde Notary & Signing Services maintains $25,000 Errors & Omissions insurance coverage and has completed a background screening through the National Notary Association (NNA) — credentials often required by title companies and lenders.

We accept:

• Cash

• Credit/debit via Square

• Zelle

• Venmo Business

• Invoicing for title and real-estate clients

Receipts are provided for every transaction.
All payments include a detailed breakdown of notarial and travel fees, in compliance with Md. Code, State Gov’t § 18-112(c).

For remote online notarizations, video recordings and digital journals are retained for a minimum of ten (10) years, as required by COMAR 01.02.08.10E(3).

For in-person notarizations, a written notary journal is maintained securely to ensure accountability and recordkeeping.

You can verify any Maryland notary public through the official Secretary of State Notary Search:

👉 https://sos.maryland.gov/Notary/Pages/Search.aspx