BECOMING A NOTARY
Notary Requirements in Massachusetts
Thinking about becoming a notary public in Massachusetts? Here's who qualifies, what the application asks for, and what to expect once you're commissioned.
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AT A GLANCE
A 7-year commission
Appointed by the Governor, administered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- At least 18 years old
- Live or work in Massachusetts
- Application with four signatures, including one Massachusetts attorney
- $60 fee after approval
Who can become a notary
- You're at least 18 years old
- You live in Massachusetts, or have a regular place of work or business here
- You can complete the Commonwealth's application and the required endorsements
Massachusetts doesn't require a course or an exam for a traditional notary commission, but training is a smart investment. See Notary Resources.
What the process looks like
- 1
Complete the application
The Commonwealth's application includes signatures from four people who know you, one of whom must be a Massachusetts attorney, plus your resume.
- 2
Submit and wait
The Commonwealth estimates processing at up to 18 days, though it can vary.
- 3
Appointment and fee
Notaries are appointed by the Governor. Once approved, you pay the $60 commission fee and are sworn in.
- 4
Start notarizing
Get your seal, start your journal and learn the rules before your first notarization.
Once you're commissioned
Keep a journal
Massachusetts notaries must record their notarial acts in a journal.
Follow the rules on ID
Know what counts as satisfactory evidence of identity. See Identifying Signers.
Know your limits
Notaries can't give legal advice, and Massachusetts notaries can't solemnize marriages.
Renew every 7 years
Your commission lasts 7 years. Renew before it expires.
Step by step: applying for your commission
The Massachusetts application is short, but each part matters. Here is the order most applicants follow.
- Read Chapter 222 of the General Laws. The application asks you to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that you have read the notary law and will follow it.
- Fill out the application. It asks for your contact information, your connection to Massachusetts (where you live or work) and your background.
- Have your application notarized. Your own signature on the application is signed in front of a current notary.
- Collect four endorsements. Four Massachusetts residents who know you sign the endorsement page, and one of them must be a Massachusetts attorney in good standing.
- Submit it to the Commonwealth. Once it is reviewed and approved, you receive instructions for being sworn in and paying the $60 commission fee.
- Get your supplies. You will need an official seal or stamp and a journal before your first notarization.
Your seal, journal and recordkeeping
Massachusetts requires notaries to keep a chronological official journal of their notarial acts. Each entry records the date, the type of notarial act, the document, each signer’s name and address, and how you identified them. Notaries who are attorneys, or who work for an attorney and notarize as part of that job, are not required to keep a journal, and neither are government employees for acts done in that role. Even then, a journal is a good habit.
Your journal is yours. It stays with you, not your employer, and you keep it for seven years after your commission ends. Your seal must show your name as it appears on your commission, the words “Notary Public” and “Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” your commission expiration date and a facsimile of the Commonwealth’s seal.
Common mistakes new notaries make
Cutting corners on ID
Every signer needs satisfactory evidence of identity: a current government-issued photo ID, a credible witness or your personal knowledge of them. See Identifying Signers.
Notarizing for family
A notary can’t notarize for close family members or when they have a personal interest in the document.
Giving advice
Choosing a form or explaining what a document means is legal advice. Send signers back to whoever prepared the document.
Learning from a working team
Our team has notarized and apostilled documents across Greater Boston for more than 20 years, for families, law firms, universities and life sciences companies. If you’re new and want to learn how the work looks day to day, from hospital signings to apostilles, join our training interest list and we’ll let you know when sessions open.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a notary exam in Massachusetts?
Not for a traditional commission. Remote online notarization will have its own requirements once the Commonwealth finalizes them.
How long does it take to get commissioned?
The Commonwealth estimates up to 18 days for processing, but timing can vary.
Where do I find the application?
On the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website. See The Notary Application for tips.
Thinking about becoming a notary?
Join our interest list to hear about training from experienced notaries.