Can a Maryland notary notarize in DC?

Asked by: Alexandro Bins  |  Last update: December 6, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (20 votes)

The important thing is that you are located in Maryland since that is where you are authorized to act as a Notary Public. ​If you are commissioned as a Notary Public in a state other than Maryland, you cannot use your Maryland notary seal when notarizing in that other state.

Can a DC notary notarize a Maryland document?

Answer: District of Columbia commissions can only be used in the District of Columbia. You may not notarize documents anywhere outside of the District of Columbia. You may only notarize within the geographical borders of the District of Columbia.

Can a notary notarize in a different state?

Understanding Notarization Across State Lines

Notary commissions are state-specific, and a notary's authority is not typically limited to their own state. For instance, a notary public in Texas can notarize documents intended for use in California unless specific conditions are applied.

Can a notary notarize anywhere in the US?

The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.

Can a Maryland notary notarize in West Virginia?

As long as a few basic requirements are met, the answer is absolutely yes. When it comes to notarization a document's origins are less important than ensuring the actual notarization process is carried out within the full guidelines of local state law.

How Being a Notary Signing Agent Changed His Life! (Tony, D.C. Maryland Virginia)

32 related questions found

Can a Maryland notary notarize out of state?

You may only act in your capacity as a Notary Public if you are physically present in the State of Maryland at the time of the notarization. Where the document will be used is not relevant; you may notarize a document that will be used outside of Maryland.

Can an online notary notarize in another state?

Under the California Civil Code 1189(b), a notarial certificate from another state is valid as long as it complies with the laws of that state. Currently, California does not allow its own notaries to perform remote online notarization.

Does a notary have to read the document they are notarizing?

No, it is not illegal; however, the Notary should not read the documents they notarize because it is unnecessary and could possibly be a violation of the signer's privacy. You may scan over the document to obtain the information you need for your journal entry of the notarization. Confronted with a tricky notarization?

Which state has the most notaries?

The highpoint is Florida, with 19.0 notaries for every 1,000 people in the state. Kansas (16.4), Texas (15.1), North Dakota (15.1), and Maine (14.8) also have high numbers of notaries per 1,000 people.

What is the difference between a notary and a notary public?

A notary is “one who is appointed to take Depositions or Proofs of any kind.” In this example, the word “one” refers to the person in charge of performing notarial duties. A notary public is someone who has been appointed by a state government to serve as an impartial witness when legal documents are signed.

Can I notarize on the day my commission expires?

It's important for notaries to keep track of when their commission expires. If they perform a notarization after their commission has expired, it could invalidate the notarization and any documents notarized with an expired commission may not be considered legally binding.

What makes a notarized document invalid?

Missing or Incorrect Notary Seal

States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal. Without a proper seal, legal and financial institutions may reject the document.

What is a remote online notary?

A remote online notarization (RON) is the act of performing a notarization remotely using two-way audio-visual technology. It is the online equivalent of an in-person, paper-based notarization where every part of the process is done via the Internet.

Does DC allow online notary?

Remote online notarization (RON) became official in the District of Columbia in August 2022. RON laws in DC mandate that notaries must first notify the mayor's office and provide the names of the technology providers they plan to use before completing their first transaction.

Can a notary notarize outside of their county?

Yes, California Notaries have statewide jurisdiction (GC 8200).

Can I be a notary in multiple states?

For example, some states (e.g., California) limit notaries to perform only within their home state borders, while others (e.g., Montana) may allow broader authority under certain conditions.

What is the hardest state to become a notary?

New York. New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission.

Does it matter what state your notary is from?

Can a Notary Legally Notarize Out-of-State Documents? Yes, a notary public can legally notarize documents from any state as long as the notarial act occurs in the state in which they were commissioned.

Which type of notary makes the most money?

Specialize in real estate closings

Make money as a notary public by becoming a loan signing agent and specializing in notarizing real estate documents. Loan signings are often more complex and command higher fees.

What is the most common mistake made by a notary?

One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.

Can you notarize a signature without the person present?

To notarize a document, the signers must be present at the time of notarization. While you can notarize an acknowledgment document that has been previously signed in some cases, the signer must still be present at the time of notarization to confirm the validity of their signature.

How much does the UPS store charge for notary?

For example, here in California, our UPS store charges $15 per notary signature. Where as other states are lower, sometimes even under $10. However if the notary has to come you or travel for any reason to do the job, the notary can charge whatever traveling fee they would like to on top of the charge per signature.

Which states do not allow RON?

States that only allow IPEN and not RON currently include California and Mississippi. Remote ink-signed notarization (RIN). RIN is similar to RON; however, the closing is paper-based.

Can I transfer my notary from one state to another?

Can a notary notarize in another state? It is unusual for a notary to transfer his or her commission to another state. If you would like to become a notary in another state, you will probably have to meet that state's specific requirements. Therefore, your commission will not transfer to another state.

Can a PDF be notarized?

Adobe and Notarize have partnered to make digital notary services easily accessible. You can instantly connect with a trusted notary to sign PDF documents and get them certified hassle-free.