GUIDE · UPDATED NOVEMBER 2026
Does the Post Office Notarize Documents?
Why USPS does not notarize, what that means for passport paperwork, and where to go in Massachusetts instead.
Does the post office notarize documents?
No. United States Postal Service post offices do not offer notary services. Notaries are commissioned by the states, and USPS is a federal agency, so postal clerks do not notarize documents as part of their job. Some privately owned shipping stores that sell postage also have a notary on staff, which is why people sometimes think the post office notarizes. In Massachusetts, you can find a notary at many banks, shipping and business service stores and law offices, or book a mobile notary who comes to you.
Key points
- USPS post offices do not notarize documents.
- A private shipping store may have a notary, but it is not the post office.
- Post offices do accept passport applications, which is a different service from notarization.
- If your passport paperwork includes Form DS-3053, that form must be notarized before you go.
Why the confusion?
Many post offices accept passport applications, and the clerk watches you sign and administers an oath for that application. That is part of the passport process, not a notarization of other documents. Shipping stores that sell stamps and mail packages add to the confusion; some are franchises with a commissioned notary, but they are private businesses.
Passport paperwork that does need a notary
If one parent cannot attend a child's passport application, the absent parent usually signs Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent, in front of a notary. The U.S. Department of State requires the DS-3053 to be notarized, and the post office will not notarize it for you. Get it notarized before your passport appointment. See child passport consent (DS-3053).
Where to get something notarized instead
| Where to go | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Your bank or credit union | Often free or low-cost for customers; call ahead, since not every branch has a notary on duty |
| Shipping and business service stores | Many privately owned stores offer notary service; availability varies by location and time of day |
| Law offices | Usually for the firm's own clients |
| A mobile notary | Comes to your home, office, hotel or hospital; best for urgent, after-hours, multi-signer or apostille-bound documents |
Bring a current government-issued photo ID, the complete document and any witnesses it needs. See how to get a document notarized in Boston for a full checklist.
Need something notarized?
We come to your home, office, hotel or hospital anywhere in Boston and across Massachusetts.
When to call a mobile notary
- Hospitals, rehabilitation centers and senior living. See Do hospitals have notaries?
- Documents going abroad. Notarization must be done correctly for the apostille. See apostille vs. notarization.
- Several signers or many documents at an office or home.
- Evenings and urgent deadlines, when a bank or store notary is not available.
How we help
Boston Mobile Notary & Apostille Service comes to you anywhere in Boston and across Massachusetts. We notarize passport consent forms, powers of attorney, affidavits, real estate and estate planning documents, and we handle the apostille for documents headed abroad.
Sources
Requirements can change. Always follow the current instructions from the Commonwealth.
Frequently asked questions
Does the post office have a notary?
No. USPS post offices do not provide notary services. Some privately owned shipping stores do.
Can I get a DS-3053 notarized at the post office?
No. Have Form DS-3053 notarized by a notary public before your passport appointment, then bring it with the application.
Where can I get something notarized near a post office?
Try a bank, a shipping and business service store or a law office, or book a mobile notary who comes to you.
Is a post office passport oath the same as a notarization?
No. The oath is part of the passport application process and does not notarize other documents.
What do I bring to a notary?
A current government-issued photo ID, the complete document and any witnesses the document requires.
Need something notarized?
We come to your home, office, hotel or hospital anywhere in Boston and across Massachusetts.