JAMAICA PLAIN · REHAB AND SKILLED CARE
Notary at Laurel Ridge Rehabilitation and Skilled Care
Need a document signed by a parent or loved one at Laurel Ridge in Jamaica Plain? We come to the resident’s room, often the same day, with witnesses when needed, so families can take care of powers of attorney, health care proxies and other paperwork without moving the resident.
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174 FOREST HILLS ST, JAMAICA PLAIN
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 Laurel Ridge
| Address | 174 Forest Hills Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 |
| Phone | 617-522-1550 |
| Care | 24-hour skilled nursing, short-term rehab with therapy 7 days a week, long-term care and a memory care unit |
| Size | 120 beds |
| Visiting | Visitors are welcome every day of the week; visitor parking is available |
| Operator | A non-profit member of Ascentria Care Alliance |
From the facility’s website and public records, November 2026. We’re an independent notary service, not affiliated with Laurel Ridge. 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 Laurel Ridge 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).
Planning signatures around rehab and memory care
Short-term rehab stays move quickly. Families often need a power of attorney or health care proxy signed before discharge, while the resident is focused on therapy. We schedule around therapy sessions and meals, when the resident is rested and alert.
Laurel Ridge also has a memory care unit. For residents with memory loss, timing matters even more: a notary must be confident the signer understands what they’re signing. Talk with the care team about the best time of day, and with your attorney before the visit if you have any doubt.
Good to know
- Bring the resident’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
- Laurel Ridge’s Social Services and Case Management team handles discharge planning; ask them about timing before discharge
- Spanish-speaking families: we can provide certified Spanish translation of documents if needed
Frequently asked questions
Can you come to Laurel Ridge on a weekend?
Yes. Laurel Ridge welcomes visitors every day of the week, and we schedule evenings and weekends by appointment.
My parent is in short-term rehab and going home soon. Should we sign now?
If a power of attorney or health care proxy is needed, it’s usually easier to sign while your parent is settled at Laurel Ridge than in the rush of discharge day. Ask the case management team about the discharge timeline.
Does Laurel Ridge provide notary services?
Laurel Ridge’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 Laurel Ridge?
Tell us who is signing and what. We’ll confirm everything before we arrive.