Apostille requirements for a notarized document in Massachusetts
 

Massachusetts apostilles for notarized documents

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UPDATED JUNE 11, 2021

notary-requirements-massachusetts

The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office is the only office in Massachusetts that is authorized to issue apostilles or certifications for notarized Massachusetts documents going to foreign countries.
 
Notarized documents that might require apostilles include powers of attorney, affidavits, consents, copies of academic records, passports, IDs, corporate resolutions, minutes, agreements, bylaws, etc. Foreign Document Express provides fast and reliable apostille services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We offer free document evaluation to make sure your document will qualify for a Massachusetts apostille.
 
What do you need to check before you present your notarized document for authentication by a Massachusetts apostille?

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

notaryAcknowledgment 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:

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, and acknowledged to me that (he) (she) signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose. (as partner for ________________________, a partnership) (as ________________ for _______________, a corporation) (as attorney in fact for__________________, the principal) (as ________________ for _________, (a) (the)________
 

notary 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:

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 who signed the preceding or attached document in my presence, and who swore or affirmed to me that the contents of the document are truthful and accurate to the best of (his) (her) knowledge and belief.
__________________ (official signature and seal of Notary)
 

notary 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)

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:

On this ____________ day of ____________, 20______, I certify that the (preceding) (following) (attached) document is a true,  exact, complete, and unaltered copy made by me of ___________ (description of the document), presented to me by ______________________.
__________________
(official signature and seal of Notary)

notaryFor 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.

How to apostille

Not sure if your notarized document qualifies for a Massachusetts apostille? Email a copy of your document for a free evaluation

Need to obtain a personal or a corporate document from the State of Massachusetts? We can help! Please contact us.

MA apostille: price, processing time, order form

Apostille-price

MA apostille: $175 (USPS Priority within the U.S. is included)
Processing time: 5-7 bus. days.
FedEx (2nd day): $20
FedEx (standard overnight): $30
FedEx International: $75 (most countries)
FedEx International to Eastern Europe, South America, Africa: $115
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Complete the Order form and enclose it with your document(s). Our mailing address is
Foreign Documents Express
331 Newman Springs Rd., Bldg. 1
4th Floor, Suite 143
Red Bank, NJ 07701

007

Apostilles in some state and federal agencies are still being processed with delays. Please contact us for processing times. 

175 apostille 1

Our guarantee: if we are not able to apostille your document(s), we will issue a 100% refund.

We process documents for all countries. 

We process documents from all 50 U.S. States (apostilles and certifications), the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC (federal apostilles and certifications), and all foreign embassies/consulates.

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Foreign Documents Express is a registered service provider with the Secretary of State - authentications, Hague apostilles, and certification.

Our mailing address is

Foreign Documents Express
331 Newman Springs Rd., Bldg. 1
4th Floor, Suite 143
Red Bank, NJ 07701

Phone: (646) 267-1140

Fax: (800) 905-0421

We accept all major credit and debit cards. We also accept checks (including personal checks), money orders, PayPal, MoneyGram, Western Union, bank transfers.

Major credit cards accepted

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western union

You can call us at (646) 267-1140 with any questions about apostille process. We are available Monday - Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to answer your questions. You can also fax or email copies of your documents for a free evaluation. We will advise if your documents qualify for apostilles and, if not, what steps need to be taken.

Processing times differ depending on nature of your documents. In each case will provide the time estimate, and will do our best to meet the deadline.

Delivery by USPS Priority mail (within the U.S.) is included in the price. FedEx (2nd day, within the U.S.): $20, FedEx (standard overnight): $30. We ship internationally. FedEx International to most countries is $75 (FedEx to Eastern Europe and South America is $115).

Apostilles and embassy legalization procedures are not complicated if you entrust your documents to legalization experts who know the requirements of U.S. apostille agencies, foreign consulates and embassies and the requirements of the receiving organizations in foreign countries.