Massachusetts law about notaries public

Laws, forms, and web sources on being a notary public.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or if you have a specific question, please contact our law librarians for assistance.

Best bet

Becoming a notary public, Mass. Governor.
Explains how to become a notary public, how to find a notary public, and who to contact if you have a question or request.

Commissions, Mass. Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Includes, among other information:

• General information
• Notary public renewals: "Renewal applications are automatically mailed to Massachusetts notaries. They are mailed five weeks before a commission is scheduled to expire. Applications are not available online."
• Remote online notarization: "[N]otaries public can use online communications platforms to perform their duties. However, they first must complete training and notify our office through an online notification form. The training and notification form aren’t yet available, so notaries shouldn’t use online remote platforms at this time."

Massachusetts laws and court rules

MGL c. 9, § 15A Justices and notaries; acting after expiration of commission; validation certificate

MGL c. 222 Justices of the peace, notaries public and commissioners

• St. 2023, c. 2 §§ 23-33: Made extensive changes to notarial law in Massachusetts. Included in this legislation are provisions allowing remote online notarization.

Depositions

Mass. Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 28(a) Persons before whom depositions may be taken

Falsifying

MGL c. 268, § 33 Pretending to be a notary public

Fees of notaries public

MGL c. 262, § 41 Fees that notaries may charge

Issuing witness summons

MGL c. 233, § 1 Issuance of summonses for witnesses

Perpetuate testimony

MGL c. 233, § 46 Application to take deposition to perpetuate testimony

Subpoenas

MGL c. 30A, § 12(3) Adjudicatory proceedings; subpoenas

MGL c. 222, § 15 Notarial acts; forms of acknowledgment or certification; when alternate forms may be used

Mass. Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 45 Subpoena

Uniform electronic transactions

MGL c. 110G, § 11 Fulfillment of notarization, acknowledgement, verification, or oath requirements

Witnessing the opening of a bank safe, vault or box

MGL c. 167, § 32 Property deposited with bank; disposition

Selected cases

Richardson v. The UPS Store, Inc., 486 Mass. 126 (2020)
"The $1.25 fee cap set forth in G. L. c. 262, § 41, applies only to a particular notarial act known as 'noting,' i.e., a step in the process of protesting a dishonored negotiable instrument." It does not limit the fees for any other act by notaries.

Forms

To become a notary

• Notary public application form, Mass. Governor.

For use by notaries

• MGL c. 183, § 42 Forms for acknowledgments and certificates of authority 
• MGL c. 183 appendix, forms 13-16 Forms of acknowledgments, etc. (Request a copy from the law libraries)
• MGL c. 222, § 15 Statutory forms: forms of acknowledgment or certification; when alternate forms may be used

Notary journal

"A journal may be created on a fixed tangible medium or in an electronic format. If the journal is maintained on a tangible medium, it shall be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it shall be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the state secretary, including rules concerning the regular transfer of electronic journal entries to the secretary." -- MGL c. 222, § 22

Regardless of the kind of medium you use, you must record all the information required by law. Available at the State Bookstore (Under: Public Records).

Web sources

Apostilles and certification of documents, Mass. Secretary of State.
Explains the process for getting an Apostille or Certification for a notarized document going to a foreign country.

What if I need to get something notarized?, Mass. Legal Help, 2025.
Discusses what getting a document notarized means, how to find a notary, what you need to give to the notary, and how much does it costs.

What is a notary public?, National Notary Association.
A collection of topical pages that answer frequently-asked questions about notary publics, how to become one, stamps and seals, fees by state, and more.

What to do with old notary seals by David Thun, National Notary Association, Notary Bulletin, 2021.
Provides tips on destroying your notary seal.

Print sources

Legal forms, 5^th ed. (Mass. Practice v. 16-16A) West Group, 2008 with supplement.
Chapter 44: Notarizations; Chapter 92: Acknowledgments. 

Massachusetts-Statutory Forms of Acknowledgment for Notary Public, 1 AmJur Legal Forms 2d Sections 7:173-7:183 (Individual, Corporation, Partnership, Attorney-In-Fact, Executor or Administrator, Trustee, and Guardian or Conservator).

Last updated:	June 12, 2026