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Maine Revised Statutes Title 4. Judiciary § 1916. Certificate of notarial act

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Certificate required. A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate. The certificate must:

A. Be executed contemporaneously with the performance of the notarial act;

B. Be signed and dated by the notarial officer and, if the notarial officer is a notary public, be signed in the same manner as on file with the Secretary of State;

C. Identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed;

D. Contain the title of office of the notarial officer;

E. If the notarial officer is a notary public, indicate the date of expiration of the officer's commission; and

F. Contain the legibly printed or typed name of the notarial officer.

2. Stamp requirements. If a notarial act regarding a tangible record is performed by a notarial officer, an official stamp may be affixed to or embossed on the certificate. If a notarial act regarding an electronic record is performed by a notary public and the certificate contains the information specified in subsection 1, paragraphs B, C and D, an official stamp must be attached to or logically associated with the certificate.

3. Sufficiency of certificate. A certificate of a notarial act is sufficient if it meets the requirements of subsections 1 and 2 and:

A. Is in a short form set forth in section 1917;

B. Is in a form otherwise permitted by the laws of this State;

C. Is in a form permitted by the law applicable in the jurisdiction in which the notarial act was performed; or

D. Sets forth the actions of the notarial officer and the actions are sufficient to meet the requirements of the notarial act as provided in sections 1905, 1906 and 1907 or a law of this State other than this chapter.

4. Execution of certificate certifies compliance. By executing a certificate of a notarial act, a notarial officer certifies that the officer has complied with the requirements and made the determinations specified in sections 1904, 1905 and 1906.

5. Notarial act to precede signature. A notarial officer may not affix the officer's signature to, or logically associate it with, a certificate until the notarial act has been performed.

6. Certificate to be attached. If a notarial act is performed regarding a tangible record, a certificate must be part of, or securely attached to, the record. If a notarial act is performed regarding an electronic record, the certificate must be affixed to, or logically associated with, the electronic record. If the Secretary of State has established standards by rule pursuant to section 1928 for attaching, affixing or logically associating the certificate, the process must conform to the standards.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 4. Judiciary § 1916. Certificate of notarial act - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-4-judiciary/me-rev-st-tit-4-sect-1916/

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