Maine passed its version of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts as House Paper no. 1503 in April 2022, to allow both electronic and remote notarizations, which became effective July 1, 2023. Additionally, the Maine Secretary of State published emergency rules, implementing the new law, that were effective July 5, 2023.
The law allows both electronic and remote notarizations, requiring notice from each notary who intends to complete either of those types of notarizations, as well as approval of the technology provider used in completing the notarization. As with most state laws on remote/electronic notarizations, the rules require completion of identity proofing through at least two approved means, which include the most commonly used methods of a Knowledge-based Authentication Assessment and credential analysis, using private and public sources.
Upon approval of a notary public to complete electronic or remote notarizations, a technology provider is required to notify the state of each approved notary for the provider’s system. Other requirements for the provider technology are also consistent with the requirements of other states.
This law replaces a prior temporary law that also allowed remote notarizations until July 1, 2023.
