Maine Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form & 2026 Wording

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, section 1917, under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Maine Secretary of State before relying on it.

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Fillable Maine acknowledgment certificate

Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the statutory Maine wording. Copy the text or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool just prepares the correct form.

What is the exact Maine acknowledgment wording?

Maine's individual acknowledgment short form under 4 M.R.S. 1917 uses "record," since the state adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts effective July 1, 2023.

What must a Maine acknowledgment include?

A Maine acknowledgment must include the state and county venue, the date, the signer's name, and the notarial officer's signature, stamp or printed name, and commission expiration date. The notary determines identity from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence and signs only after the act is performed. For an acknowledgment the notary does not have to watch the document being signed, but for a jurat with "subscribed before me," the signer must sign in the notary's presence. Personal appearance is required with no exceptions.

Can a Maine notary perform a marriage?

Yes, a Maine notary public can solemnize marriages, which few states allow and which makes Maine notaries locally sought after for weddings. A notary authorized to officiate may even solemnize the marriage of a close relative, a specific exception in the law. This power sits alongside the usual notarial acts: acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, and witnessing signatures. It is one reason a Maine commission carries more authority than a notary commission in most other states.

Who commissions notaries in Maine?

The Secretary of State commissions Maine notaries for a seven-year term, one of the longest, and renewal requires passing an online examination based on the state's course of study. Maine also treats an attorney admitted to practice in the state as a notarial officer, so a Maine lawyer can perform notarial acts without a separate commission. The notary buys their own embossing or ink seal, since the state does not supply it, and the certificate needs the signature, seal or printed name, and commission expiration.

When do you use an acknowledgment instead of a jurat in Maine?

You use an acknowledgment when the signer confirms they signed a record willingly, and a jurat when they swear the statement is true. The Maine handbook notes the jurat is often the safer choice because it requires both signing in the notary's presence and an oath. For an acknowledgment, the record may be pre-signed; the signer appears, is identified, and acknowledges the signature. The notary must never sign a document without a notarial certificate stating the act taken.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, sections 1902, 1904 and 1917 (the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts); the Maine Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook. Confirm current wording before relying on it.