2019 Maryland Code
State Government
Title 18 - Notarial Acts
Subtitle 2 - Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.
§ 18-204. Verification, attestation, certification, or protest.

    ** TAKES EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2020 PER CHAPTER 407 OF 2019 **

    (a)    A notarial officer who takes an acknowledgment of a record shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual in accordance with § 18–206 of this subtitle, that:

        (1)    the individual appearing before the notarial officer and making the acknowledgment has the identity claimed; and

        (2)    the signature on the record is the signature of the individual.

    (b)    A notarial officer who takes a verification on oath or affirmation of a statement shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual in accordance with § 18–206 of this subtitle, that:

        (1)    the individual appearing before the notarial officer and making the verification has the identity claimed; and

        (2)    the signature on the statement verified is the signature of the individual.

    (c)    A notarial officer who witnesses or attests to a signature shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual in accordance with § 18–206 of this subtitle, that the individual appearing before the notarial officer and signing the record has the identity claimed.

    (d)    A notarial officer who certifies or attests a copy of a record or an item that was copied shall determine that the copy is a full, true, and accurate transcription or reproduction of the record or item.

    (e)    (1)    A notarial officer who certifies that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate copy of the electronic record shall:

            (i)    reasonably determine whether the electronic record is in a tamper–evident format; and

            (ii)    personally print or supervise the printing of the electronic record onto paper or other tangible medium.

        (2)    A notarial officer who certifies that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate copy of the electronic record may not make the certification if the notarial officer has detected a change or an error in an electronic signature or other information in the electronic record.

    (f)    A notarial officer who makes or notes a protest of a negotiable instrument shall make or note the protest in accordance with § 3–505(b) of the Commercial Law Article.