How to Become a Notary Public in Massachusetts

The state commission fee is $60. The cost of your seal and journal will vary based on the vendor you choose.

The cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary. Supply package prices vary among vendors. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

Some vendors may package items with additional fees — processing fees for example. Training can be included in package prices for new Notaries, although the quality of education can vary. Some providers offer their own Notary courses while others do not have the on-staff expertise to develop and support educational content. Several vendors offer Notaries live question and answer support, and others are not able to offer such assistance.

The Governor's office and the Secretary of the Commonwealth estimate a processing time of up to 18 days.

The term of a Massachusetts Notary Public commission is seven years.

There are basic qualifications for a person to become a Notary in Massachusetts. Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a legal resident of or regularly conduct business in Massachusetts

No training or exam is required for Massachusetts Notaries, but you're required to read Chapter 222 of the General Laws, as amended by Chapter 289 of the Acts of 2016. On the application, you'll be required to sign under penalty of perjury that you have read the chapter and agree to comply with all of its terms.

You'll need a Notary seal and journal for every notarization you perform. The Notary seal may either be a black-inked stamp or embosser, but must contain the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public"
• The words "Commonwealth of Massachusetts" or "Massachusetts"
• The words "My commission expires _____ (date)"
• The Great Seal of Commonwealth of Massachusetts

You may get a separate stamp with your expiration date, but it would need to be used with the Notary seal.

When shopping for seal stamps, quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging. A second seal can help you avoid downtime if your seal is ever misplaced, and an embosser can help add an additional layer of fraud prevention security.

A Notary journal is also required by law to keep a record of your notarizations. When purchasing a journal, there are a few important features to which you must pay close attention. A journal with numbered pages and tamper-proof sewn construction allows Notaries to identify missing pages in their journals, which becomes extremely helpful if you're ever named in a lawsuit. Simple notebooks or glue-bound journals do not offer the same level of security.

Supplies are sold by most vendors in packages, which can sometimes provide savings. However, not all vendor packages are created equal — they can vary greatly in terms of quality and content. If you are a new Notary or renewing your commission, the types and quantity of notarizations can require different tools of the trade.

No. A bond is not required for Massachusetts Notaries, but many choose to purchase optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policies to protect themselves from legal expenses. E&O insurance is not a requirement in Massachusetts.

The Governor appoints Notaries Public while the Secretary of the Commonwealth, located in Boston, MA, maintains records of Notaries and authenticates their acts.

You can find several reputable Notary Public training providers with a quick online search. It's important to note that the Secretary of the Commonwealth does not provide workshops or seminars, nor does the Secretary endorse any business that advertises Notary Public training. Since the Secretary of the Commonwealth doesn't have jurisdiction to take action regarding a business that offers Notary training, make sure you thoroughly review any company you plan to work with.

Yes. Several companies offer Notary training, supplies, insurance and assistance with the entire application process. Also, the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website has the application with submission details, if you want to get the process started on your own.

You will be able to notarize anywhere in the state of Massachusetts.

You can notarize for everyone, excluding yourself. You cannot notarize your own signature, nor can you notarize documents you are named in or would benefit from. Massachusetts law prohibits you from notarizing for a spouse, domestic partner, parent, guardian, child or sibling, including in-laws, step relatives or half relatives. If you perform notarizations as part of your employment, your employer may limit the notarizations you perform during your work hours.

While Massachusetts does not set a maximum fee Notaries can charge, keep your notarial fees reasonable. As a best practice, inform signers of your fees ahead of the notarization to avoid any confusion. Excessive charges could result in complaints to the Governor's Council.

You must report any changes to your address or name to the Secretary of the Commonwealth within 10 days of the change. You must provide a signed notice of the change, including both the old and new information.

For name changes, you may continue to perform notarizations under your former name until your commission expires.

It depends. Even the most careful and detail-oriented people can make mistakes. As a Notary Public, any unintentional mistake you make or intentional misconduct you engage in could be very costly for everyone involved. Notaries have been sued for financial damages that signers incur, and lawsuits are expensive even if you're innocent. If you are diligent in following the law and keep thorough records, you'll be better prepared if any legal action does come your way.

You'll receive a renewal application five weeks before your commission expires. Renewal applications are not available online.

Beginning on January 1, 2024, remote notarization will be allowed for Massachusetts Notaries. We will be publishing a step-by-step guide to remote notarization in Massachusetts soon. We will link to it here when it's published. In the meantime, to learn more about RONs and how they work, check out this article.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.