How to Apply to Become a New Notary Public
To become a notary public, you must apply for your commission online at https://mdsos2.my.site.com/s/#/home.
If your state senator delegates authority to approve notary applications to the Secretary of State, approval of the completed notary application takes approximately 2-5 business days.
In order to complete the application, have the following items ready before you apply:
After receiving notification that your commission has been approved, you must appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county in which you are commissioned to take the oath of office within 30 days of the date you were notified. Failure to appear within 30 days will result in revocation of your commission, and you will have to reapply.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court will provide your notary commission after your are sworn in. After you are sworn in and you have received your commission, you are an official Notary Public for the State of Maryland.