A mobile notary comes to you, whether that is your apartment in Dorchester, an office in the Seaport, a hospital room in the Longwood Medical Area or a care facility in Brighton. It is the easiest option when you cannot get to a bank or town hall during business hours. Here is what to expect when you hire a mobile notary in Boston, and how to make the appointment go smoothly.
What a mobile notary does
A mobile notary is a Massachusetts notary public who travels to the signer. The notarial acts are the same ones any notary performs under M.G.L. c. 222 § 15:
- Acknowledgments (deeds, powers of attorney, many legal forms)
- Jurats, plus oaths and affirmations (affidavits and sworn statements)
- Signature witnessings and copy certifications
- Less common acts such as witness summonses, subpoenas and witnessing the opening of a safe-deposit box or vault
What a mobile notary does not do is just as important. A notary who is not a lawyer cannot give legal advice, choose your form for you, or tell you how to fill it out. If you need help with the content of a document, talk to an attorney first.
Typical mobile and after-hours fees in Boston
Massachusetts does not cap fees for most notarizations, and no statute sets travel fees. Mobile notaries usually charge a notarial fee plus a travel or service fee that reflects distance, time of day, parking and wait time. Vendor price guides commonly cite totals in the range of tens to low hundreds of dollars, with higher prices for late-night, weekend, hospital and jail visits. Prices in Boston vary widely, so:
- Get the total price in writing before the notary leaves.
- Ask whether the fee is per signature, per document or per visit.
- Ask about cancellation fees and what happens if the signer is not able to sign when the notary arrives.
Remember that notarizing absentee-ballot materials and veterans' benefit applications must be free. Our Massachusetts notary fees guide explains the rules.
Before the appointment: documents, ID and witnesses
A quick checklist:
- Have the complete document ready, with every page. A notary cannot notarize a blank or incomplete document.
- Do not sign in advance if the notarization is a jurat; the signer must sign in front of the notary. For any act, it is safest to wait.
- Confirm acceptable ID for every signer: a current government-issued ID with photo and signature. See what ID you need.
- Line up any extra witnesses the document itself requires (for example, some estate-planning documents). The notary is usually not one of those witnesses.
- Tell the notary which notarial act the document calls for, if you know. If the document has no certificate wording, the signer, not the notary, chooses the type of act.
Hospital, nursing home and correctional-facility signings
These visits are where a good mobile notary earns their fee. Under c. 222 § 16, a notary must not proceed if the signer's demeanor gives a compelling doubt that they understand the document, or if the signer does not appear to be acting freely. Expect the notary to talk with the signer directly, not only with family members.
- Hospitals: confirm visiting hours and whether the signer is alert enough to sign. Medication and fatigue matter. Bring the patient's ID from home; a hospital wristband is not an ID.
- Nursing homes: ask the facility whether a staff notary is available. A credible witness must be personally known to the notary and have no interest in the document, so a beneficiary cannot serve.
- Jails and prisons: call the facility first to learn its rules for professional visits, approval lead time and identification for incarcerated signers. The notary still needs satisfactory evidence of identity under Massachusetts law.
Signers who can't sign: signature by mark and assisted signing
Section 15 gives two options when a signer has a disability or cannot write:
- Signature by mark: the signer makes a mark (such as an "X") in the notary's presence, and two witnesses with no interest in the document sign next to it. The notary then notarizes the mark.
- Signature by the notary: if the signer cannot sign or make a mark, the notary may sign the signer's name at their direction, in front of two disinterested witnesses who also sign. The notary adds a statement naming the signer and both witnesses with their addresses, and then notarizes the signature.
Tell the notary in advance so they can bring the right forms and you can arrange two impartial witnesses.
Real estate documents: when an attorney must be involved
Massachusetts is an attorney-closing state. Under c. 222 § 17, a non-attorney notary may not conduct a real estate closing or act as closing agent, unless employed by the attorney conducting the closing or by the lender for its own loans. A mobile notary can notarize a deed or a power of attorney you bring, but a residential purchase or refinance closing must be run by a Massachusetts attorney. See our real estate notarization guide.
Suffolk County Registry of Deeds and Probate Court resources
- Suffolk County Registry of Deeds: 24 New Chardon Street, Boston. Deeds, mortgages and many other land records are recorded here. Other counties' registries are listed on the state's Registry of Deeds district offices page.
- Suffolk Probate and Family Court: also at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston. Many probate and family court forms need a notary or are signed under the pains and penalties of perjury; read each form's instructions. See the court's location page.
How to check that a notary is commissioned
Massachusetts has no public online notary lookup. To confirm a notary's commission and expiration date, call the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Public Records Division at 617-727-2836, as the state's find a notary page and who-to-contact page explain. You can also look at the notary's seal: it shows the name as commissioned and the expiration date. More in our find and verify a notary guide.
Ready to book? Compare mobile notaries on our Boston notary page or search the full directory.
FAQ
How much does a mobile notary cost in Boston?
There is no set price. Expect a notarial fee plus a travel or service fee based on distance, timing and location type. Ask for the total in writing before the visit.
Can a mobile notary come to a hospital?
Yes. The signer must be able to understand the document and sign willingly, and must have acceptable ID or a qualifying credible witness. Call the hospital about visiting rules.
Can a mobile notary handle my home closing?
A non-attorney notary cannot conduct a Massachusetts real estate closing unless employed by the closing attorney or by the lender for its own loans. Residential closings are run by Massachusetts attorneys.
What if the signer cannot write their name?
Massachusetts allows a signature by mark with two disinterested witnesses, or, if the signer cannot make a mark, a signature by the notary at the signer's direction with two witnesses.
This guide from Boston Notary Co., a privately operated directory and not a government agency, is general information, not legal advice; confirm current law and procedures with the official sources linked above.