ME Notary - Maine Notary Electronic and Remote Notarization Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Maine notary, authorized to perform remote notarizations, is physically located in their office in Augusta.
They are asked to notarize a document for a signer who is currently traveling in France.
According to Maine law, is this permissible?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because the notary is physically located in Maine at the time of the notarial act.

Answer

No, because the signer must be physically located within the United States.

Answer

Yes, but only if the document relates to a transaction or property within Maine.

Answer

No, because both the notary and the signer must be physically located in Maine.

Question 2

Before a commissioned Maine notary can perform their first electronic or remote notarization, what action must they take?

Accepted Answer

Notify the Secretary of State of their intent and identify the approved technology provider they will use.

Answer

Obtain a separate errors and omissions insurance policy specifically for remote notarizations.

Answer

Pass a specialized technology examination administered by the state.

Answer

File a separate bond with the county clerk in their county of residence.

Question 3

Which of the following is a mandatory record-keeping requirement for all remote online notarizations (RON) performed by a Maine notary?

Accepted Answer

Creating and securely retaining an audio-visual recording of the notarial act.

Answer

Maintaining only a paper journal entry with a note that the act was remote.

Answer

Mailing a paper copy of the notarized document to the Secretary of State for archiving.

Answer

Keeping a log of the signer's IP address and deleting the video record after 90 days.

Question 4

A signer, who is not personally known to the notary, appears for a remote online notarization. Which of the following identity verification methods is compliant with Maine's requirements?

Accepted Answer

The signer successfully completes a multi-factor authentication process that includes credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication (KBA).

Answer

The signer presents a valid driver's license to their webcam for visual inspection by the notary.

Answer

The signer's identity is confirmed by a credible witness who is also remotely located and known to the notary.

Answer

The signer's identity is verified by a trusted friend of the notary via a conference call.

Question 5

When a Maine notary performs any electronic or remote notarization, what is the rule regarding the use of a journal?

Accepted Answer

A journal is mandatory and must be kept in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format.

Answer

A journal is recommended but not required, similar to traditional paper notarizations.

Answer

The notary may use their existing paper journal for both traditional and remote acts.

Answer

Journal entries must be printed and stored in a physical, locked binder for 7 years.

Question 6

Which of the following technology platforms is explicitly forbidden for use when conducting a remote online notarization in Maine?

Accepted Answer

A standard video conferencing application like Zoom or FaceTime.

Answer

A platform that requires multi-factor authentication for the signer.

Answer

A provider that has been officially approved by the Maine Secretary of State.

Answer

A system that records and stores a secure audio-visual recording of the session.

A Maine notary, authorized to perform remote notarizations, is physically located in their office in Augusta.They are asked to notarize a document for a signer who is currently traveling in France.According to Maine law, is this permissible?

A Maine notary, authorized to perform remote notarizations, is physically located in their office in Augusta.
They are asked to notarize a document for a signer who is currently traveling in France.
According to Maine law, is this permissible?