An affidavit is based upon either the personal knowledge of the affiant or his or her information and belief. Personal knowledge is the recognition of particular facts by either direct observation or experience. Information and belief is what the affiant feels he or she can state as true, although not based on firsthand knowledge.
An affidavit is a written statement of facts voluntarily made by an affiant under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law.
For example, some states (e.g., California) limit notaries to perform only within their home state borders, while others (e.g., Montana) may allow broader authority under certain conditions.
California. California has some of the most stringent application requirements for Notaries in the U.S. — including a required education course and background check — and the mandatory exam is among the most challenging in any state.
It is possible for you to become a notary in multiple states; however, this is an unusual process. There are situations where you can apply for a notary commission in multiple states; however, a lot of states will require you to be a resident of the state in which you are earning a notary commission.
This state-approved online Notary education and examination fulfill Maryland's state requirement for all new Notary applicants.
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
Applications for Notary Public Commission can be obtained from the Secretary of State's website. Once your application has been submitted and approved, you will be notified by the Secretary of State's office to appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to take the oath of office and receive your Notary Commission.
The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
Similarly, a notary public of another state may not act as a notary public in Maryland, unless the person also holds a commission issued by Maryland. However, a notary can notarize documents from another state as long as the document is notarized in Maryland.
So, can a notary public notarize out-of-state documents? The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
