Where must a Maryland notary be to notarize a document?

• A. In a private office only
• B. Anywhere in Maryland
• C. In the county courthouse
• D. In a foreign country

Answer: (B)

Notaries in Maryland have statewide authority. They can perform notarial acts anywhere within Maryland, not just in a private office or a courthouse, as long as they are physically present and the proper notarial steps are followed (verifying identity, administering the oath if needed, completing the certificate, and recording the act in the journal). This means a signer can be at any location in the state, and the notary can travel to them or they can come to the notary. Notarizing in a foreign country isn’t allowed under Maryland law, and restricting the act to a specific place within Maryland would be unnecessarily limiting.