Applying for an Appointment as a Notary Public

A person who wishes to apply for appointment as a Notary Public first must apply to the Maryland Secretary of State. The Secretary’s staff then forwards the application to the State Senator of the applicant’s Senatorial District and then to the Governor for his/her approval of appointment. If approved, the Governor’s staff will notify the applicant to appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County (or Baltimore City) where the applicant resides.

The appointee takes the oath of office before the Clerk of the Court, receives the Commission, and is qualified to act as a Notary Public. All Prince George’s County Notary Publics are currently sworn in by appointments only.

The fee for a Notary Commission is $22 ($11 to the Secretary of State, and $11 to the Clerk of the Court).

The fee to authenticate a Prince George’s County Notary is $1 per signature.

Additional information can be found at the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State, Notary Division.

Apply for the Notary Public Commission Application Online