MD Notary MD Notary Fees and Records 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Maryland electronic notary (e-notary) is required to maintain a journal. How long must the journal be retained after the commission expires?
- 10 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 3 years
- 7 years
Correct answer: 10 years
Maryland's electronic notary regulations require the electronic journal to be retained for 10 years after commission expiration.
Question 2: Which information is NOT required to be recorded in a Maryland electronic notary's journal?
- The signer's home address (Correct answer)
- Date and time of the notarial act
- Type of notarial act performed
- Name of each individual for whom the act was performed
Correct answer: The signer's home address
Maryland law does not require the signer's home address to be recorded in the notary's journal.
Question 3: If a Maryland notary's journal is lost or stolen, what must the notary do?
- Notify the Secretary of State promptly (Correct answer)
- File a police report only
- Purchase a new journal and continue without reporting
- Notify the Maryland Bar Association
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State promptly
Maryland notaries must promptly notify the Secretary of State if their journal is lost, stolen, or compromised.
Question 4: Can a Maryland notary refuse to perform a notarial act if the signer refuses to pay the notary's fee?
- Yes, a notary may decline if the fee is not paid (Correct answer)
- No, a notary must always perform the act
- Only if the notary is employed by a company
- Only for acknowledgments, not jurats
Correct answer: Yes, a notary may decline if the fee is not paid
A notary is not obligated to perform a notarial act and may decline if the signer refuses to pay the lawful fee.
Question 5: Which document type would most commonly require a notary to record a credible witness's information in a journal entry?
- An identity verification where the signer lacks acceptable ID (Correct answer)
- A standard mortgage closing document
- A vehicle title transfer
- A sworn affidavit with government-issued ID
Correct answer: An identity verification where the signer lacks acceptable ID
Credible witnesses are used when a signer cannot provide satisfactory identification, so the witness's details are recorded in the journal.
Question 6: A Maryland notary's commission expires. What happens to the notary's journal records?
- The notary must continue to safeguard the journal per retention requirements (Correct answer)
- The journal must be submitted to the Secretary of State immediately
- The journal may be destroyed after 1 year
- The journal becomes the property of the notary's employer
Correct answer: The notary must continue to safeguard the journal per retention requirements
Even after commission expiration, the notary remains responsible for maintaining and safeguarding journal records for the required retention period.
MD Notary MD Notary Fees and Records 2
A Maryland electronic notary (e-notary) is required to maintain a journal.
How long must the journal be retained after the commission expires?