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Mass. General Laws c.222

Justices of the peace, notaries public and commissioners

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 222.

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§ 1 Definitions 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, § 23, effective June 27, 2023

§ 1A Appointment and jurisdiction of justices of the peace and notaries public 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, § 24, effective June 27, 2023

§ 3 Appointment of commissioners to administer oaths of office; returns; fees 
§ 4 Appointment of commissioners; term 
§ 5 Oath; seal 
§ 6 Powers and duties 
§ 7 Instructions to commissioner 
§ 8 Acknowledgment of instrument; printed or typed name; expiration date; official notarial seal or stamp 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, § 25, effective June 27, 2023

§ 9 Acting as justice or notary after expiration of commission; penalty 
§ 10 Destruction of notary's records; penalty 
§ 11 Acknowledgments by persons in armed forces or their dependents 
§ 12 Exemptions from maintaining journal of notary transactions 
§ 13 Qualifications; grounds for denial of application for appointment 
§ 14 Term of commission 
§ 15 Notarial acts; forms of acknowledgment or certification; when alternate forms may be used 
§ 16 Notarial acts that should not be performed; prohibited actions by notary public 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, §§ 26-27, effective June 27, 2023

§ 17 Notaries public not licensed to practice law; prohibition from offering legal advice or advertisement as legal specialist; immigration matters; real estate closings 
§ 18 Violations of chapter; penalties; civil cause of action and remedies; unfair or deceptive act or practice 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, § 28, effective June 27, 2023

§ 19 Duty to perform notarial act upon payment of fee; exceptions 
§ 20 Lawfulness, accuracy or truthfulness of document or transition involving notarial act; effect of documents not containing acknowledgement or certification; rules of land court relating to filing of documents 
§ 21 Advertisements for notarial services in language other than English 
§ 22 Chronological official journal of notarial acts; contents; exceptions from duty to maintain; examination; safeguarding 

Amended by St.2023, c.2, §§ 29-32, effective June 27, 2023

§ 23 Fees not to be charged for certain notarial acts 
§ 24 Destruction of notary seals and stamps upon expiration, resignation or revocation of commission; retention of journal and records 
§ 25 Change of name or address; notice to state secretary 
§ 26 Revocation of commission 
§ 27 Tamper-evident technologies; acceptable electronic records 

Added by St.2023, c.2, § 33, effective January 1, 2024

§ 28 Notarial acts using communication technology for remotely-located individuals 

Added by St.2023, c.2, § 33, effective January 1, 2024

§ 29 Transferring personal information; exceptions 

Added by St.2023, c.2, § 33, effective January 1, 2024

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