Massachusetts Notary Public Requirements
Massachusetts is one of the few states on this site with no statutory bond requirement for notaries — the state’s own notary law simply doesn’t impose one. Notaries are appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council, for a 7-year term, and there’s no exam or training course required for a standard commission. Here’s what the process actually involves, plus the real detail on remote online notarization.
- Quick facts
- No bond, no exam — but the Governor’s Council can still deny you
- Steps to become a notary
- Remote Online Notarization (RON)
- Renewal
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Appointing authority | Governor, with the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council; the Secretary of the Commonwealth maintains records and handles the application/fee process, under M.G.L. c. 222 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old and must reside, or have a regular place of work or business, within Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 222 § 13(a)) |
| Bond | None required by M.G.L. c. 222 §§ 13–14 — a genuine structural difference from most states this site covers. Cross-referenced against the National Notary Association’s own reference, which likewise lists no bond requirement. |
| Course or exam | None required for a standard commission |
| Commission fee | $60, paid to the Secretary of the Commonwealth only after the Governor and Governor’s Council approve the application — per mass.gov’s own notary guidance (mass.gov itself returned HTTP 403 to direct fetch attempts this run; see source note) |
| Commission term | 7 years (M.G.L. c. 222 § 14), ending early only if the commission is revoked or the notary resigns |
| Oath deadline | Must be taken within 3 months of appointment |
| Per-act fee cap | No general statutory cap confirmed. Section 19 points to the fee set under M.G.L. c. 262 § 41, but a 2020 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision held that section’s $1.25 cap applies only to “noting” (a step in protesting a dishonored negotiable instrument), not notarial acts generally — so there isn’t a clear statewide per-act price ceiling for ordinary notarizations. |
No bond, no exam — but the Governor’s Council can still deny you
Unlike most states this site covers, Massachusetts doesn’t require a surety bond, a training course, or an exam to become a notary — M.G.L. c. 222 simply doesn’t impose any of those requirements, a position the National Notary Association’s own reference material confirms. That doesn’t mean approval is automatic, though. Under § 13(b), the Governor has discretion to deny an application for appointment, reappointment, or renewal for several specific reasons: a material misstatement or omission on the application, a conviction resulting in imprisonment, certain misdemeanor convictions or motor-vehicle/boating violations, an admission to facts sufficient for a guilty finding, a civil finding or admission of fraud or deceit, or a prior revocation, suspension, or denial of a notary commission or professional license in Massachusetts or elsewhere. The statute also gives the Governor a catch-all discretion to deny for “any other reason, including official misconduct,” that would make someone unsuitable to serve.
Steps to become a notary
- Confirm eligibility — at least 18 years old, and residing or regularly working in Massachusetts.
- Submit your application to the Governor’s office; the Governor appoints notaries with the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.
- Wait for approval from the Governor and Council before paying anything — the $60 commission fee isn’t due until after you’re notified of approval, per mass.gov’s own guidance.
- Pay the $60 fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth once notified.
- Take your oath of office within 3 months of appointment to activate your commission.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Massachusetts authorizes RON directly in statute (M.G.L. c. 222 § 28), with real detail rather than a vague grant. A notary physically located in Massachusetts can notarize for a remotely located principal if they identify the signer through personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two identity-proofing processes; complete the act in a single real-time session; reasonably confirm the record is the one the principal actually signed; and make an audio-visual recording of the whole act, kept for 10 years. Wills, codicils, and documents related to the electoral process can’t be notarized remotely at all. Before performing a first remote notarization, a notary must register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, identify which approved communication-technology provider they’ll use (the Secretary maintains an approved-provider registry, and providers must carry at least $250,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage), and submit proof of any required training — the Secretary may require up to 3 hours of training before a notary’s first remote act. A principal located outside the U.S. can only be notarized remotely for documents tied to U.S. matters or U.S.-connected property, and only if the foreign country doesn’t prohibit the act. One notable restriction: for documents involving a mortgage or other conveyance of residential real property, only an attorney notary (or a non-attorney working under an attorney’s direct supervision) may perform the remote notarial act, and the certificate has to show that attorney’s Board of Bar Overseers registration number.
Renewal
A notary commission runs 7 years from appointment. The statute doesn’t describe a separate, simplified renewal process distinct from the original appointment procedure — reappointment goes through the same Governor-and-Council approval, with the same grounds for denial under § 13(b) that apply to a first-time application. Keep your address and name current with the Secretary of the Commonwealth throughout your term; M.G.L. c. 222 § 25 requires notice of any change.
Does Massachusetts require a surety bond to become a notary?
No. M.G.L. c. 222, the statute governing Massachusetts notaries, doesn’t impose a bond requirement anywhere in its appointment or qualification sections — a real exception among the states this site covers, most of which require one.
How long does a Massachusetts notary commission last?
7 years, under M.G.L. c. 222 § 14, ending early only if the commission is revoked or the notary resigns. That’s a longer term than most states, many of which use 4-year commissions.
Can a Massachusetts notary notarize documents remotely?
Yes, under M.G.L. c. 222 § 28, but only after registering with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and using an approved communication-technology provider. Wills, codicils, and election-related documents can’t be notarized remotely under any circumstances, and remote notarization of a mortgage or other residential real-property conveyance requires an attorney notary specifically.