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Massachusetts Notary Starter Kit: Four References, Governor's Council Approval, $60 Fee, Bound Journal and Seal Rules
Massachusetts notaries are appointed by the Governor with the Governor's Council, and one of your four references must be a lawyer. Chapter 222 then asks for a bound journal of every act. Here is each step.
$29 one time · Word and PDF · download link by email
Who it is for
Massachusetts residents and commuters applying to the Governor's Council, newly sworn Massachusetts notaries setting up a bound journal, and notaries waiting for the Commonwealth's remote notarization rollout.
Why it is different
- Explains the 2020 court ruling that left most Massachusetts notary fees uncapped.
- Lists the family members chapter 222 says you may not notarize for.
- States the Commonwealth's remote notarization status as of November 2026 instead of guessing.
What is inside
- Four references and Governor's Council approval. Who qualifies under c. 222, s. 13, the four signatures, the State House mailing, the $60 fee and the 7-year term.
- Protest fees, ID, bound journal and seal. Why Massachusetts has no general fee cap, the free voting and veterans' acts, s. 22 journal entries and the seal with the Commonwealth's facsimile.
- Remote rollout status and s. 21 notice. Where remote notarization stands with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, what s. 28 will require, and the advertising rules.
- References to swearing-in checklist. From asking an attorney reference to the swearing-in notice and your first entry.
- Massachusetts commission budget. The $60 commission fee filled in, with blanks for seal, bound journal, insurance and future remote costs.
- Chapter 222 journal worksheet. Printable pages with a column for each entry s. 22 requires, for practice or backup.
A look inside
The first pages, as you will get them
Get it
Massachusetts Notary Starter Kit
Want every toolkit? The toolkit membership includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly.
Delivered as a zip of editable Word files and printable PDFs. For one business, your own use. General information and templates, not legal, tax or accounting advice. General information drawn from chapter 222 of the Massachusetts General Laws and mass.gov, not legal advice. Before relying on any rule, check with the Notary Public Office at the State House. MCC Solutions has no tie to the Governor's Council. Payment is handled by Stripe. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right.
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