 | Massachusetts Frequently Asked Questions and Answers of Notary Publics
Do I have to get a new stamp or seal?
Notaries must have and use a stamp or seal. It can be either a black ink stamp, or a seal that makes an indentation on the paper. The stamp or seal must contain: (1) the notary public’s name; (2) the words "notary public," "Commonwealth of Massachusetts" or "Massachusetts," and "my commission expires on" or "my commission expires" or "commission expires" (all of which indicate the commission expiration date); and (3) a facsimile of the great seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you are a current notary and have a seal that has all of this information except for the expiration date, you may obtain a black ink stamp that has your name and the expiration date. You then would use both the stamp and the seal each time you notarize a document.
Massachusetts Notary Law
REVISED EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 455 (04-04)
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- A notary shall keep an official notarial seal or stamp that is the exclusive property of the notary, which may not be used by any other person.
- A notary public shall obtain a new seal or stamp if the notary public renews his or her commission, receives a new commission, or changes his or her name.
- The notarial seal or stamp shall include: the notary public's name exactly as indicated on the commission; the words "notary public," "Commonwealth of Massachusetts" or "Massachusetts", and "my commission expires on [commission expiration date]" or "commission expires on [commission expiration date]" or "commission expires [commission expiration date]"; and a facsimile of the great seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Each new notarial seal that uses ink shall, after the date of this Executive Order, use black ink.
- A notary public may satisfy the requirements of this section by using a stamp and a seal that together include all of the information required by this section.
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