UPDATED JUNE 11, 2021
What do you need to check before you present your notarized document for a Massachusetts apostille?
1. That the Notary Public has signed his/her name exactly as he/she was commissioned.
2. That the notarial certificate has been completed properly (see below).
3. That the Notary Public’s expiration date is on the document correctly, clearly and completely.
4. The Notary Public has affixed the notary seal on the document and the imprint is legible.
The four types of Notarial Acts in the State of Massachusets
Acknowledgment shall mean a notarial act in which an individual, at a single time and place: a. appears in person before the Notary Public and presents a document; b.is identified by the Notary Public through satisfactory evidence of identity; and c. indicates to the Notary Public that the signature on the document was voluntarily affixed by the individual for the purposes stated within the document and, if applicable, that the individual had authority to sign in a particular representative capacity. A Notary shall take the acknowledgment of the signature or mark of persons acknowledging for themselves or in any representative capacity by using substantially the following form:
Jurat means a notarial act in which an individual, at a single time and place: a. appears in person before the Notary Public and presents a document; b. is identified by the Notary Public through satisfactory evidence of identity; c. signs the document in the presence of the Notary Public; and d. takes an oath or affirmation before the Notary vouching for the truthfulness or accuracy of the signed document. A Notary shall use a jurat certificate in substantially the following form in notarizing a signature or mark on an affidavit or other sworn or affirmed written declaration:
Signature witnessing shall mean a notarial act in which an individual, at a single time and place: a. appears in person before the Notary Public and presents a document; b. is identified by the Notary Public through satisfactory evidence of identity; and c. signs the document in the presence of the Notary Public. A Notary shall witness a signature in substantially the following form in notarizing a signature or mark to confirm that it was affixed in the notary’s presencewithout administration of an oath or affirmation:
On this ____________ day of ____________ , 20 ______, before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared _______________ (name of document signer), proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification, which were _________________ to be the person whose name is signed on the preceding or attached document in my presence.
__________________ (official signature and seal of Notary)Copy certification shall mean a notarial act in which a Notary Public: a. is presented with a document; b. copies or supervises the copying of the document using a photographic or electronic copying process; c. compares the document to the copy; and d. determines that the copy is accurate and complete. A Notary shall certify a copy by using substantially the following form:
For individuals needing a photograph notarized, a Notary Public may not certify nor authenticate a photograph. However, a Notary Public may notarize a statement by the principal regarding the photograph. That notarization does not authenticate or certify the photograph, it only verifies that the individual making the statement signed the statement.
Read more about Massachusetts apostille guidelines and tips.
Not sure if your notarized document qualifies for a Massachusetts apostille? Email a copy of your document for a free evaluation
MA apostille: price, processing time, order form
FedEx (standard overnight): $30
FedEx International: $75 (most countries)
FedEx International to Eastern Europe, South America, Africa: $115