Maine Notary Public — All Questions

What is the best description of Maine's recordkeeping expectation for notarial acts?

• a.A journal is prohibited
• b.The journal must be filed with the county after each act
• c.Keeping a journal of notarial acts is strongly recommended as the notary's record, and remote notaries must keep records of electronic acts✓
• d.Only attorneys may keep a journal

Maine strongly recommends keeping a journal as the notary's record of each act; a good journal is the best defense if an act is later questioned. Remote (online) notaries must keep records of their electronic acts under Maine's remote notarization rules.Maine Notary Public Handbook (Maine Secretary of State)

Under Maine's updated notary law, what does the notary use to authenticate a notarial act on paper?

• a.The signer's initials
• b.An official stamp showing the notary's name, title, and commission expiration date, together with the notary's signature✓
• c.A gold foil embossment only
• d.A photograph of the notary

Under Maine's updated notarial law, the notary completes the act with the notary's signature and an official stamp identifying the notary's name, title as a Maine notary public, and commission expiration date. The stamp authenticates the act and never contains the signer's information.Maine Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts; Maine Notary Public Handbook

If a Maine notary keeps a journal, what should each entry ideally capture?

• a.The date, type of act, description of the document, the signer's name and signature, the identification method, and any fee✓
• b.The signer's salary
• c.A photocopy of the whole document
• d.The notary's personal opinions

A useful journal entry records the date, the type of act, a brief description of the document, the signer's name and signature, how the signer was identified, and any fee. It documents the act without storing unnecessary sensitive data.Maine Notary Public Handbook (Maine Secretary of State)

A Maine notary's official stamp is lost or stolen. What should the notary do?

• a.Do nothing unless it is misused
• b.Keep using a scanned image of the stamp
• c.Wait until the seven-year term ends
• d.Take prompt steps to prevent misuse, notify the Secretary of State as required, and obtain a replacement✓

Because a stolen stamp can facilitate fraud, the notary should promptly act to prevent misuse, notify the Secretary of State as required, and obtain a new stamp. Relying on a scanned image of the old stamp is not acceptable.Maine Notary Public Handbook (Maine Secretary of State)