What You Need to Do to Become a Notary in Massachusetts

To become a notary public in Massachusetts, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a Massachusetts resident. You then take a notary exam administered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, pass it, and submit an process with your exam results and required documents. The whole process typically takes four to eight weeks from exam to commission.

Massachusetts does not require you to take a notary course before the exam, though many people do. The exam covers Massachusetts notary law, your duties and limitations, and how to handle common notarization situations. You can study using the Secretary of the Commonwealth's official study guide, which is free and covers everything on the test.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and live in Massachusetts to become a notary.
  • The Secretary of the Commonwealth administers the notary exam; you do not need a course, but the free study guide covers all test material.
  • After you pass the exam, you submit an process with your exam results, fingerprints, and a character reference to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  • Your notary commission lasts four years and costs $50; you renew it by exam or by taking an approved refresher course.
  • Once commissioned, you can notarize documents, take acknowledgments, and administer oaths, but you cannot notarize your own signature or documents you have a financial interest in.

Meet the Basic Requirements

Massachusetts has four core requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident (green card holder). You must be a resident of Massachusetts — this means you live here, not just work here. You must also have no felony convictions and no history of dishonesty that would disqualify you.

If you are not yet a permanent resident but are in the process, contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office to ask whether your visa status allows you to explore. Some visa categories do; others do not. The office can tell you in one conversation whether you are may be able to access to proceed.

Study for and Pass the Notary Exam

The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office publishes a free study guide on its website. read it and work through it — it covers the law you will see on the exam. The exam itself is 50 multiple-choice questions. You need a score of 70 percent or higher to pass, which means you can miss 15 questions.

You take the exam at a testing center. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's website lists approved testing locations across the state. You schedule your exam online through the testing center's portal. The exam costs $50. You receive your score when ready after you finish, and if you pass, you get a score report that you will need for your process.

If you do not pass on your first try, you can retake the exam. There is no waiting period between attempts, though you will pay the $50 fee again. Most people pass on the second attempt if they study the guide more carefully the first time.

Submit Your process to the Secretary of the Commonwealth

After you pass the exam, you submit an process to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. You will need your exam score report, a completed process form (available on the Secretary's website), two forms of identification, proof of Massachusetts residency, and fingerprints taken by an authorized provider.

For proof of residency, a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement dated within the last 60 days works. For fingerprints, you can go to your local police department or use a private fingerprinting service — the Secretary's office maintains a list of approved providers. The fingerprints go to the Massachusetts State Police for a background check.

You also need a character reference — someone who knows you and can vouch for your honesty and fitness for the role. This person writes a short letter stating they have known you for at least two years and believe you are trustworthy. Mail or deliver your complete process packet to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office in Boston.

Pay the Commission Fee and Receive Your Appointment

The notary commission fee is $50. You pay this when you submit your process. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office reviews your process, background check, and character reference. If everything is in order, you receive a commission certificate in the mail. This process usually takes four to eight weeks.

Your commission is valid for four years from the date it is issued. You do not need to renew it until that four-year period ends. Keep your commission certificate in a safe place — you may need to show it to clients or to your employer.

Understand Your Powers and Limits as a Notary

Once commissioned, you can notarize documents, take acknowledgments (where someone swears a document is genuine), and administer oaths. You can charge a fee for your services — Massachusetts law allows up to $2 per signature, though you can charge less or nothing if you choose.

You cannot notarize a document you yourself have signed, and you cannot notarize a document in which you have a financial interest. You cannot notarize a document for a family member in most cases. You must see the person in front of you — remote notarization is not permitted in Massachusetts. You must also keep a journal of every notarization you perform, recording the date, the document type, the signer's name, and their identification.

Renew Your Commission After Four Years

When your four-year commission is about to expire, you have two paths to renew. You can take the notary exam again and submit a new process, just as you did the first time. Or you can take an approved notary refresher course — these are offered by various organizations and typically cost between $20 and $50. If you take the refresher course, you submit a certificate of completion to the Secretary of the Commonwealth instead of an exam score.

The refresher course is usually faster than studying for and taking the exam again, but either route is valid. You must renew before your current commission expires; if it lapses, you cannot notarize documents until you reapply and receive a new commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a notary if I have a criminal record?

A felony conviction will disqualify you. Misdemeanors are reviewed on a case-by-case basis — contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office with details of your conviction, and they will tell you whether you are may be able to access. The office makes this information during the background check phase of your process.

Do I need to take a notary course before the exam?

No. Massachusetts does not require a course. The free study guide published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth covers all the material on the exam. Many people study the guide on their own and pass. Some choose to take a paid course for extra structure or practice questions, but it is not necessary.

What if I move out of Massachusetts after I become a notary?

Your Massachusetts notary commission becomes invalid if you move out of state. You cannot notarize documents as a Massachusetts notary while living elsewhere. If you move to another state, you would need to become a notary in that state instead.

How much can I charge for notarizing a document?

Massachusetts law allows you to charge up to $2 per signature. You can charge less or nothing if you choose. Some notaries work for employers who set their fees, while others set their own rates. You must disclose your fee before you notarize a document.

Can I notarize a document for my spouse or family member?

Massachusetts law prohibits notarizing documents for close family members in most situations because of the conflict of interest. The exact rules depend on the type of document and your relationship. When in doubt, ask the person requesting the notarization to use a different notary, or contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office for guidance on your specific situation.