A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In Massachusetts, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Commonwealth to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, ensuring that the signers are who they say they are and understand the contents of the documents. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, appoints notaries public, and the process is overseen by the Governor's Council. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside or have a place of business in Massachusetts. While Massachusetts does not require a training course or state exam, notaries must be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a notary public, which are outlined in the Massachusetts Notarial Manual. Notaries in Massachusetts are authorized to perform various notarial acts, including administering oaths and affirmations, taking acknowledgments, executing jurats for affidavits and depositions, and witnessing or attesting signatures. The types of documents that may require notarization include affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and other legal instruments.