Notary Public
Massachusetts
Notary Public Commission Requirements
7 years
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
No
Exam Required
no exam needed
No
Bond Required
no bond needed
Application Process
VerifiedMeet eligibility requirements (18+, Massachusetts resident or regular place of work in the Commonwealth, good moral character)
Read Chapter 222 of the Massachusetts General Laws and agree to comply with all terms
Obtain a paper application from Mass.gov
Gather 4 signatures from known and respected community members (at least one must be a Massachusetts attorney in good standing)
Have the completed application notarized by a current Notary Public
Include a resume and business card with the application
Mail the completed application to: Notary Public Office, State House - Room 184, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Upon approval, pay the $60 commissioning fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Take the oath of office within three months of approval
Purchase notary seal and journal after receiving commission
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years or older years old
Residency
Must reside in Massachusetts or maintain a regular place of work or business in the Commonwealth
Citizenship
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have legal authorization to work in the United States
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredMassachusetts does not require any mandatory education, training course, or coursework to become a notary public. Applicants must read Chapter 222 of the General Laws and agree to comply with all of its terms.
Exam
Not RequiredMassachusetts does not require a notary exam.
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Not RequiredMassachusetts does not require a surety bond for notaries public.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredErrors and Omissions (E&O) insurance is not required by Massachusetts law. It is a personal choice and recommended for liability protection.
Seal / Stamp
Requiredeither
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $60 |
Bond Premium | N/A - no bond required |
Stamp / Seal | $20-$40 |
Total Estimated Cost | $120-$145 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
7 years
Renewal Process
Renewing applicants follow the same process as new applicants: submit a paper application with 4 character references (including one Massachusetts attorney), pay $60 fee, and take the oath of office. No additional education or exam is required for renewal.
Renewal Fee
$60
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Remote online notarization was authorized by law (Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023) and was intended to take effect January 1, 2024. However, as of early 2025, implementation has been delayed. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is still developing rules, systems, notification forms, and training modules. Notaries should not perform RON until further notice and official guidance are issued.
Important Notes
What Makes Massachusetts Unique
Massachusetts has one of the longest commission terms at 7 years.
Massachusetts has one of the longest commission terms at 7 years.
The application process is paper-based and must be mailed; there is no online application option.
No education, training, exam, or surety bond is required, making Massachusetts one of the easier states in which to become a notary.
4 character references are required, with at least one being a Massachusetts attorney in good standing.
Massachusetts has no statutory cap on fees for most notarial acts, which is unusual.
A notary journal is mandatory and must be maintained as a physical bound book with permanently numbered pages or an electronic journal in a tamper-evident format. Journals must be retained for 7 years after commission ends.
Remote online notarization has been authorized by law but implementation is delayed as of 2025.