BOSTON HOSPITALS · BEDSIDE NOTARY

Notary Visits at Boston Hospitals: A Family Guide

Arranging a notary at the hospital is stressful enough. This guide brings together what each Boston hospital says about visiting hours, check-in and parking, so you can plan the visit, plus what the patient needs to have ready.

Request a Hospital Visit Call 617-203-8755

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14 BOSTON HOSPITALS AND REHAB CENTERS

Plan the visit

Visiting hours, check-in and parking in one place

Same-day and 24-hour visits
Witnesses arranged if needed
Powers of attorney, wills and proxies
Signature by mark, when needed

Request a Hospital Visit

Hospital visiting details at a glance

Hospital	Visiting hours	Getting there	Good to know
Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit St, Boston	9am–9pm, 2 visitors at a time	Charles/MGH (Red Line) across the street; Fruit St, Parkman St and Charles River Plaza garages	Patient and Family Relations: 617-726-3370
Brigham and Women’s Hospital 75 Francis St, Boston	9am–9pm, 2 visitors at a time	80 Francis St and 45 Francis St garages	Many Dana-Farber inpatients stay here. Patient and Family Relations: 617-732-6636
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center East: 330 Brookline Ave · West: 1 Deaconess Rd	Most units 11am–8pm (arrive by 7:45pm), usually 1–2 visitors	Feldberg, Shapiro, Lowry and Pilgrim garages	Two campuses, so confirm which building. Patient Relations: 617-975-9750
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 450 Brookline Ave, Boston	Outpatient: up to 2 visitors	Yawkey garage via Jimmy Fund Way	Most inpatients are at Brigham and Women’s, so confirm where the patient is
Boston Medical Center 1 Boston Medical Center Pl, Boston	Adult inpatient noon–8pm, 2 at a time	710 Albany St and Crosstown Center garages	Visitor pass required, with ID, renewed daily. Patient Advocacy: 617-414-4970
Tufts Medical Center 800 Washington St, Boston	Adult inpatient 11am–8pm	Tufts Medical Center (Orange Line) across from the entrance; 274 Tremont St garage	All visitors check in at the Atrium Visitor Center with a government ID
Mass Eye and Ear 243 Charles St, Boston	9am–9pm, 2 visitors at a time	Charles/MGH (Red Line); Charles St lot	Patient and Family Relations: 617-573-3008
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital 300 1st Ave, Charlestown	11am–8pm	Parking below the hospital; Spaulding shuttle from North Station on weekdays	Patient and Family Relations: 617-952-5349
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital 1153 Centre St, Jamaica Plain	9am–9pm, 2 visitors at a time	Atrium and Hillside garages, free valet; bus 38	Patient and Family Relations: 617-983-4507
New England Baptist Hospital 125 Parker Hill Ave, Boston	Check in at the Info Desk 5:30am–7pm; after 7pm, Security	Lot at the main entrance; free weekday valet	Up to 2 visitors at the bedside
Boston Medical Center – Brighton (formerly St. Elizabeth’s) 736 Cambridge St, Brighton	No set hours; “reasonable limitations”	Not stated on the hospital’s site	Patient advocates can help with the health care proxy form: 617-789-2040
Mount Auburn Hospital 330 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge	1pm–8pm, up to 2 at a time	Not stated on the hospital’s site	Some units visit by appointment only
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain: 150 S Huntington Ave · West Roxbury: 1400 VFW Pkwy	West Roxbury inpatient 11am–7pm	Not stated on the VA’s site	The VA has its own advance directive form (VA Form 10-0137)
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center 1200 Centre St, Roslindale	No set visiting hours	Guest parking at the lower entrance off Centre St	Main entrance on level B1; 617-363-8000

Taken from each hospital’s official website in November 2026. Policies change, especially in flu season, so check with the unit before the visit. Hospitals don’t endorse or arrange outside notaries.

Before you book the visit

1
Check the patient is ready
They should be alert enough to understand the document and confirm they want to sign it. Ask the nurse when they’re usually most alert.
2
Have the document complete
Fully prepared, unsigned, with no blank spaces.
3
Find the ID
A current government-issued photo ID with a signature.
4
Plan for witnesses
Wills, health care proxies and signatures by mark need witnesses. We can bring them.

What happens at the bedside

We check in at the front desk or visitor center like any visitor and meet you on the unit. At the bedside, the notary confirms the patient’s identity, makes sure they understand the document and are signing willingly, and watches them sign. If the patient can’t sign their name, Massachusetts allows a signature by mark with two witnesses.

A notary can’t give legal advice or decide whether a patient has capacity. If the patient is too unwell to understand what they’re signing, the notary can’t complete the notarization, and we’ll reschedule rather than proceed.

Rehab and skilled nursing

Many signings happen after a hospital stay, at a rehab or skilled nursing facility. We visit facilities across Greater Boston, including:

Laurel Ridge Rehabilitation and Skilled Care, Jamaica Plain→CareOne at Newton→All rehab and nursing facilities→

Hospital and bedside notary services→Signature by mark in Massachusetts→Signing a power of attorney in the hospital→Request a hospital visit→

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can a notary come to any Boston hospital?

Yes. We visit patients at every Boston hospital and at rehab centers, nursing homes and hospice across Greater Boston, usually within the hospital’s visiting hours. For a visit outside those hours, we coordinate with the unit first.

Does the notary count as one of the patient’s visitors?

Usually yes. Most hospitals limit the number of visitors at the bedside, often to two at a time, so plan who will be in the room. If witnesses are needed, tell the unit in advance.

Do hospitals have their own notaries?

Some hospital staff are notaries, but none of these hospitals’ official websites says they offer notary services to patients, and staff usually can’t notarize personal legal documents. A mobile notary is the reliable option.

What ID does the patient need?

A current government-issued photo ID with a signature. A hospital wristband or medical record isn’t acceptable ID in Massachusetts. If the ID is at home, ask a family member to bring it.

What if the patient can’t sign their name?

Massachusetts allows a signature by mark, with two witnesses, or, if the person can’t make any mark, the notary can sign at their direction. See our guide to signature by mark.

Can you come the same day?

Often, yes. We’re available 24 hours a day by appointment. Call 617-203-8755 for urgent requests.

Need a notary at the hospital?

Tell us the hospital, the unit and what’s being signed. We’ll handle the rest.