Valid and current original government issued photo ID, i.e. driver's license issued by Mass DMV, original U.S. passport or identification card.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Venmo is preferred. However we also accept cash and all major credit cards via PayPal (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover).
Are there special considerations for jail & hospital signings?
Yes, a minimum fee may apply, ID requirements and waiting times are reviewed in advance.
Should documents be signed prior to appointment?
Please complete all forms except signatures and areas to be notarized which may need to be signed in the presence of the notary. If document is signed without a Notary present, we may be unable to notarize your document. All signing parties must be present for notarization to take place, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Why do I need to sign a journal when notarization are completed?
Massachusetts requires all commissioned notaries to maintain a state approved journal and a record of all notarial acts.
Will I be charged if a Notary arrives and signing does not take place?
Yes, unless by mutual agreement. Travel fees are non-refundable.
How Do I schedule AN appointments?
Please schedule your appointment online here. You will receive an email confirmation, along with a text confirmation before your appointment.
What is a Mobile Notary?
A Mobile Notary Public is a commissioned Notary who is willing to travel to your designated location to perform notarial acts. Should you be in need of having a document(s) notarized, all you have to do is schedule an appointment with us and we will contact you to set up an appointment.
A mobile Notary Public will travel to meet you anywhere, whether it be at a local Dunkin Donuts, your home, office, hospital, realtors office, title company, public library, police station, nursing home, etc., at a time convenient to you. Just fill out the form here and a we will call or email you to make arrangements.
What kind of forms need to be Notarized?
Power of Attorney, Travel Permission Letter, Divorce Paperwork, Separation Agreements, Health Care Proxy, Will, Bank Documents, Property Deeds, Motor Vehicle Documents, Applications, Passport , Certified Copy, Contracts, Bill of Sale, Subpoena, Work Visa, School Transcripts, Affidavits, Witness Statements, Depositions, Apostils, Trusts, Deeds, Quit Claim Deed, 14 Day Notice to Quit, Eviction Notices, Notice of Trespass, etc.
MGL Section 15. (a) A notary public may perform the following notarial acts: (i) acknowledgments; (ii) oaths and affirmations; (iii) jurats; (iv) signature witnessings; (v) copy certifications; (vi) issuing summonses for witnesses pursuant to section 1 of chapter 233; (vii) issuing subpoenas; and (viii) witnessing the opening of a bank safe, vault or box pursuant to section 32 of chapter 167.
1). Notaries will examine ALL documents provided in need of Notarization. There must be NO alterations to the document. There must be NO blank lines unfilled, and, if there are blank lines, they must be crossed out and initialed by the party who is providing said signature.
2). We ALWAYS will ask for proper government issued identification from ALL parties who need to sign the document in question. We accept Passports, State ID's, and Driver's Licenses. We DO NOT ACCEPT credit cards, healthcare cards, retirement ID's, workplace ID's, or any other non-government forms of identification as a PRIMARY ID. Without ID, we will not notarize your document.
3). The Notary will determine and verify the competency and willingness of all parties signing said document(s). No documents will be signed under duress or by force.
4). The Notary will be sure all document signers appear IN PERSON. If all parties in need of signature notarization cannot be present, the document(s) will not be notarized and services will not be rendered.
5). The Notary will sign his/her name to all areas that are required, and the document date(s) shall not be later than the date of said notarization.
6). The Notary will keep a written record of EVERY notary appointment, and sometimes copies of proper Government-Issued ID will be taken for the record.
7). Laws vary by state and some documents may require witnesses in addition to the notarization. In some cases, a notary public might not be legally allowed to also, simultaneously, act as a signature witness. Accordingly, we may not provide additional signature witnessing services without an appointment. Check with us if you wish to inquire as to the availability of signature witnesses, if such a requirement is mandated by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.Statement & DisclaimerBy using our services, you, the client, hereby expressly agree to the below terms and conditions (the statement & disclaimer): We will not accept documents that are signed prior to your arrival, even if you have made an appointment AND paid for said appointment. We will not provide notarization at any time without proper Identification. We do not issue refunds for services rendered. Please read the rules as stipulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as written on their website for more questions by clicking the button below.
We will NEVER discriminate and/or refuse service for reasons based upon: sexual orientation, political views, race, nationality, gender, or creed. In addition, we will NEVER notarize and are bound by law to recuse ourselves and refuse service to notarize any and all documents of which we may hold a personal or business interest.
MGL Section 17. (a) A notary public shall not advise clients, offer legal advice or represent or advertise the notary public as a legal specialist or consultant unless the notary public is an attorney licensed to practice law in the commonwealth. A notary public shall not state or imply in any communication that the notary public can or will obtain special favors from or has special influence with a government agency. A notary public who is not licensed to practice law in the commonwealth shall not make a literal translation of the notary public's status as ''licensed'' or as a ''notary public'' into a language other than English without regard to the true meaning of the word or phrase in that language or use any other term that implies that the notary public is an attorney so licensed, in any document, including an advertisement, stationery, letterhead, business card or other written or broadcast material describing the notary public or the notary public's services.
MGL Section 23. Notwithstanding section 41 of chapter 262, no fee shall be charged by a notary public to notarize a signature on an absentee ballot identification envelope or other voting materials or on any application or claim by a United States military veteran for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance or other veterans' benefit.
Where is your office located?
We have in-office appointments available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at 800 Hingham St., Suite 200N, Rockland, MA 02370. Walk-in service not available as our Notaries may be unavailable on mobile appointments. Please make an appointment before coming into the office.
Can i bring my child(ren) to the appointment?
Yes, we are a family friendly business!
CAN YOU NOTARIZE DOCUMENTS not in English, for a non-English speaking signer or a document going to a foreign country?
No, we are unable to Notarize documents that are not entirely in English, even if they have been translated. We also can not Notarize a document if we are not able to communicate with the signer in English. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office is the only office in Massachusetts that is authorized to issue an Apostille or Certification for a notarized document going to a foreign country. Massachusetts does not certify out-of -state documents. They must be certified by the state of origin. For more information contact: Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division, Commissions Section One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108, 617-727-2836 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre
What is a Notary Public?
Massachusetts Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by the Governor to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as "ministerial" officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would be the case with a "judicial" official.
It is the foremost duty of a Notary to screen the signers of particularly sensitive instruments such as property deeds, wills and powers of attorney for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the general importance of the document. Some notarizations also require the Notary to put the signer under oath declaring under penalty of perjury that the information contained in a document is true and correct.
Impartiality is the byword of the Notary Public office and the foundation of its public trust. Notaries are duty-bound not to act in situations where they have a personal interest. The public trusts that the Notary's critical screening tasks have not been corrupted by self-interest. And impartiality dictates that a Notary Public never refuse to serve a person due to race, nationality, religion, politics, sexual orientation or status as a non-client.
As official representatives of the state, Notaries Public certify the proper execution of many of the life-changing documents of private citizens, whether those diverse transactions convey real estate, grant powers of attorney, establish a prenuptial agreement, or perform the multitude of other activities that enable our civil society to function.
In this modern era when business transactions between complete strangers are the norm rather than the exception, Notaries Public engender a trust that the critical signed documents we rely on are authentic. Such trust enables the sensitive documents of commerce and law to be exchanged between strangers with full confidence in their reliability.
Important Notice South Shore Notary is not licensed to practice law, prepare documents or provide any legal counsel. South Shore Notary is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. The primary role of a Notary is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and legal forms. Each legal matter is unique and specific; South Shore Notary encourages every individual and business to seek guidance from legal counsel concerning their specific legal matter. Nothing on this website is intended nor should it be considered legal advice.