Ch. 31

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

The reference to "individual" is substituted for the former reference to
"person" because only an individual and not other entities that may be
included in the term "person" under Art. 1, § 15 of the Code, may serve as a
notary public.

The phrase "as a notary public", which modifies "[e]ach individual
appointed", is added for clarity.

18-103. APPLICATION; TERM; RENEWAL, REVOCATION, REINSTATEMENT; FEES;
AND FORMS.

(A) APPLICATION.

(1) AN APPLICATION FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT AS A NOTARY
PUBLIC SHALL BE MADE ON FORMS PREPARED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND
SHALL BE SWORN TO BY THE APPLICANT.

(2) AN APPLICATION BY A RESIDENT OF THE STATE SHALL BEAR OR BE
ACCOMPANIED BY THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF A SENATOR REPRESENTING THE
SENATORIAL DISTRICT AND SUBDISTRICT IN WHICH THE APPLICANT RESIDES.

(3) AN APPLICATION BY AN OUT-OF-STATE INDIVIDUAL SHALL BEAR
OR BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF A MARYLAND STATE
SENATOR.

(4) COMPLETED APPLICATIONS SHALL BE FILED WITH THE SECRETARY

OF STATE.

(B) NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT.

WHEN THE APPOINTMENT IS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF
STATE SHALL NOTIFY THE APPLICANT.

(C) TERM.

(1) THE TERM OF A NOTARY PUBLIC COMMISSION IS 4 YEARS.

(2) THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL ADOPT, BY REGULATION, A
STAGGERED SYSTEM FOR THE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC
COMMISSIONS.

(D) RENEWAL, REVOCATION, AND REINSTATEMENT.

(1) NOTARY PUBLIC COMMISSIONS MAY BE RENEWED FROM TERM TO
TERM, AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL ISSUE AN APPLICATION OF RENEWAL
TO THE NOTARY PUBLIC AT OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF THE
EXISTING COMMISSION.

(2) ON RECEIVING OF A SATISFACTORY APPLICATION OF RENEWAL
FROM THE NOTARY, THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE A NOTICE OF RENEWAL TO THE
NOTARY.

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