A notary public is a person approved by the state to check identity and watch people sign important papers. Notarization helps prevent fraud.
The notary must be neutral. A person who benefits from your document usually should not notarize it. In many states, a beneficiary or a party to the document may not be allowed to notarize. Even if a notary disagrees with what the document says, the notary can still notarize the document.
Each state has it's own requirements, so ask a local notary for information specific to your situation. Here are some example tasks that are often useful to do before your appointment:
Do not sign early unless your form instructions clearly say you can.
Most notarized forms must be signed in front of the notary.
Maine allows remote and electronic notarization.
Before doing remote or electronic notarizations, a notarial officer must file notice with the Secretary of State and follow approved rules.
Maine law uses the broader term “notarial officer,” which includes notaries public and some other officials.
Maine also has “Dedimus Justices,” but that is a separate role and not a replacement for normal notary services.
Maine has an official notary search. You can filter for electronic and remote notarization.
This is the American Society of Notaries page for how to become a notary in Maine.
If you want the legal text, start with these Maine statutes.
Continue to filing guidance after your forms are notarized.
How to file a court formNotary guide overview