NEWTON · SUB-ACUTE REHAB AND LONG-TERM CARE
Notary at CareOne at Newton
Need a document signed by a loved one at CareOne at Newton? We come to the patient’s room, often the same day, with witnesses when needed, so families can handle powers of attorney, health care proxies and estate paperwork during a rehab or long-term stay.
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2101 WASHINGTON ST, NEWTON
Bedside notary visits
Same-day and 24-hour appointments
- Powers of attorney and health care proxies
- Wills and estate documents
- Witnesses arranged if needed
- Signature by mark when needed
About CareOne at Newton
| Address | 2101 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462, at the junction of Route 16 and Route 128/95 |
| Phone | 617-969-4660 |
| Care | Sub-acute rehab after a hospital stay, long-term care, respite care and complex medical care, including cardiac, orthopedic, pulmonary, stroke and wound care programs |
| Size | 202 certified beds (Medicare data) |
| Amenities | Concierge, café, private rooms and a patient ambassador |
From the facility’s website and public records, November 2026. We’re an independent notary service, not affiliated with CareOne at Newton. Call the front desk to confirm visiting details before the visit.
Documents we notarize for residents
- Durable powers of attorney, so a trusted person can handle bills, banking and property
- Health care proxies (witnessed; we notarize too when families want it)
- Wills, trusts and self-proving affidavits, when prepared by the family’s attorney
- MassHealth and benefits paperwork that needs a notarized signature
- Real estate documents, such as a deed or sale paperwork
- Affidavits and other sworn statements
Which documents need a notary?
| Document | Signing requirements in Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Durable power of attorney | Usually notarized, and it must be acknowledged before a notary to be used for real estate. Banks often insist on notarization too. |
| Health care proxy | Signed in front of two adult witnesses; the agent can’t be a witness. A notary isn’t required, but some families add one. |
| Will | Signed with at least two witnesses. A self-proving affidavit, signed before a notary, makes probate easier. |
| MOLST form | A medical order completed with the resident’s clinician. It doesn’t need a notary. |
| MassHealth and benefits forms | Some require a notarized signature; check the form’s instructions. |
We’re notaries, not lawyers. Ask the attorney who prepared the document if you’re unsure what it needs.
How a visit works
- 1
Call or request a visit
Tell us the resident’s name, room if you know it, and what’s being signed. We confirm what’s needed, including witnesses.
- 2
Get the document ready
Complete and unsigned, with no blank spaces, plus the resident’s current photo ID.
- 3
We come to the room
We check in at the CareOne at Newton front desk and meet you and the resident.
- 4
Notarized on the spot
The notary confirms identity and willingness, watches the signing and completes the notarization.
When the resident can’t sign normally
After a stroke, with paralysis, a serious injury or memory loss, many residents can’t write their full name. Under the Massachusetts notary law, M.G.L. c. 222, § 15(f), a notary may certify a signature by mark, such as an X, when the resident makes the mark in front of the notary and two witnesses who are unaffected by the document, and both witnesses sign their own names beside the mark.
If the resident can’t make any mark, § 15(g) lets the notary sign the resident’s name at their direction, in front of the resident and two unaffected witnesses, and write beneath it that the signature was affixed by the notary in their presence.
Identification follows § 1 (a current government-issued photo ID with a signature, a credible witness, or the notary’s personal knowledge), and § 16 requires the notary to refuse if there’s compelling doubt the signer understands the document or is signing willingly. It also bars refusing someone solely because of a disability or age.
Read our full guide to signature by mark, and download the signature-by-mark instructions and notarial certificate (PDF).
Signing during a sub-acute rehab stay
Many CareOne at Newton patients arrive straight from a Boston hospital for a few weeks of rehab after surgery, a stroke or a cardiac event. That’s often when families realize a power of attorney or health care proxy is needed. Signing during the rehab stay, when the patient is stable and rested, is usually easier than in the hospital or on discharge day.
We schedule around therapy and meals, and we’re glad to coordinate with the nursing staff on the best time.
Good to know
- Bring the patient’s current government-issued photo ID, or ask a family member to bring it
- If the document needs witnesses, tell us. We can bring them, since facility staff often can’t serve
- Ask the front desk or concierge about visiting times before the visit
- Easy access from Route 128/95 and Route 16 for family members coming from the suburbs
Frequently asked questions
Can you come to CareOne at Newton the same day?
Often, yes. Call 617-203-8755 and we’ll find the earliest time that works for the patient and the unit.
My parent was moved from the hospital to CareOne. Do we need new documents?
Not necessarily. Documents already signed in the hospital remain valid. If something wasn’t signed before the move, we can come to CareOne to complete it.
Does CareOne at Newton provide notary services?
CareOne at Newton’s website doesn’t mention notary services for residents, and staff usually can’t notarize personal legal documents. A mobile notary comes to the resident’s room at a time that works around care and therapy.
What ID does the resident need?
A current government-issued photo ID with a signature, such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport. A facility wristband or chart isn’t acceptable ID in Massachusetts. If the ID is at home, have a family member bring it.
What if the resident can’t sign their name?
Massachusetts allows a signature by mark with two unaffected witnesses, or, if the person can’t make any mark, the notary can sign at their direction. We can bring witnesses.
Can the notary decide whether my parent is competent to sign?
No. A notary confirms identity and that the signer understands and is signing willingly, but doesn’t make medical or legal judgments. If there’s compelling doubt, the notary can’t proceed. Talk with the care team and the attorney first if capacity is in question.
How quickly can you come?
Often the same day, and we’re available 24 hours a day by appointment. We coordinate the time with you and, if needed, the nursing staff.
Need a notary at CareOne at Newton?
Tell us who is signing and what. We’ll confirm everything before we arrive.