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Key Facts: Massachusetts Notary Exam
7 years
Commission Term
M.G.L. c. 222, §14 (checked 2026-10-19)
$60
Commissioning Fee
Secretary of the Commonwealth Notary Public Application instructions (checked 2026-10-19)
$0
Bond Required (no surety bond)
M.G.L. Chapter 222 (no bond provision) (checked 2026-10-19)
No exam
Mandatory State Exam
M.G.L. c. 222, §13 qualifications; Notary Public Application (checked 2026-10-19)
2023
Year RON Authorized (Chapter 2, Acts of 2023)
Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, approved March 29, 2023 (checked 2026-10-19)
10 years
RON Audio-Visual Recording Retention
M.G.L. c. 222, §28(f) (checked 2026-10-19)
For 2026, becoming a Massachusetts notary requires being at least 18 and either residing in Massachusetts or having a regular place of work or business there. Commissions run 7 years, the commissioning fee is $60, and no surety bond is required. Massachusetts sets no general per-act fee cap (the $1.25 cap in G.L. c. 262, §41 applies only to 'noting' a protest), and remote online notarization was authorized by Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, but the Secretary of the Commonwealth says notaries should not use online platforms until its required training and notification form are available.
Sample Massachusetts Notary Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Massachusetts Notary exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1How long is a Massachusetts notary public commission valid before it must be renewed?
2Who actually appoints (commissions) notaries public in Massachusetts?
3Which state office maintains notary appointments, administers the oath of office, and authenticates Massachusetts notarial acts?
4Does Massachusetts require an applicant to pass a written notary examination before being commissioned?
5What is the minimum age to become a notary public in Massachusetts?
6Which residency-type requirement satisfies eligibility to be a Massachusetts notary public?
7Is a surety bond required to be commissioned as a notary public in Massachusetts?
8What is the application/commissioning fee to become a Massachusetts notary public?
9Which Massachusetts statute is the primary law governing notaries public today?
10Under M.G.L. c. 222, § 15, which of the following is an authorized notarial act for a Massachusetts notary public?
About the Massachusetts Notary Exam
Massachusetts notaries public are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Governor's Council and serve a 7-year term under M.G.L. Chapter 222. There is no mandatory state notary exam or bond, but notaries must follow detailed rules on identification, personal appearance, journals, seals, fees, and prohibited acts.
Exam sponsor: Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Governor's Office and Secretary of the Commonwealth. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
Self-paced (no state exam)
Passing Score
No state exam (practice test)
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Notarial Acts and Certificate Wording
Acknowledgments vs. jurats, oaths and affirmations, signature witnessing, copy certifications, and the statutory certificate forms in M.G.L. c. 222, §15
Qualifications and Commissioning
Eligibility, 7-year term, Governor/Governor's Council appointment, $60 fee, no mandatory exam, and renewal through the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Identification and Personal Appearance
Satisfactory evidence of identity, credible witnesses, personal knowledge, and the requirement that principals personally appear
Journal, Seal, and Recordkeeping
Mandatory journal duty and exemptions, journal contents, official seal elements, black-ink rule, and electronic seals under §8 and §22
Remote Online Notarization
RON registration, identity proofing (personal knowledge, credible witness, or two proofing processes), 10-year recording retention, prohibited remote documents, and closing attorney rules under §28
Fees, Prohibited Acts, and Discipline
No general fee cap, no-fee voting and veterans' acts, conflict-of-interest bans, UPL limits, official misconduct, and commission revocation
Preparing for the Massachusetts Notary Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No state exam (practice test)
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: Self-paced (no state exam)
- Exam / certification fees: $60 commissioning fee Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Massachusetts Notary: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Massachusetts notary commission?
A Massachusetts notary public commission lasts 7 years. The Secretary of the Commonwealth automatically mails a renewal application about five weeks before the commission expires.
Does Massachusetts require a notary exam or training course?
No. Massachusetts does not require a written notary exam or a mandatory pre-appointment training course. You submit the notary application (with a resume and four references, one of whom must be a member of the bar) to the Governor's office and take the oath of office once approved. The Secretary may require a course of up to 3 hours before a notary's first remote online notarization.
Is a bond required to be a Massachusetts notary, and what does it cost?
Massachusetts does not require a surety bond. The commissioning fee is $60. Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional, not mandatory.
How much can a Massachusetts notary charge per notarial act?
Massachusetts sets no general statutory fee cap for ordinary notarial acts. The $1.25 cap in G.L. c. 262, §41 applies only to 'noting' a dishonored negotiable instrument, as confirmed in Richardson v. The UPS Store, Inc., 486 Mass. 126 (2020). No fee may be charged on voting materials or veterans' benefit claims.
Does Massachusetts allow remote online notarization (RON)?
The law allows it, but it is not operational yet. Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023 added §28 to Chapter 222 (effective January 1, 2024). Before a first remote notarization, a notary must be physically located in Massachusetts, register as a remote notary with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and use approved communication technology and identity proofing; the audio-visual recording must be kept for 10 years. The Secretary says its required training and notification form are not yet available, so notaries should not use online remote platforms at this time.
Who appoints notaries public in Massachusetts?
The Governor appoints notaries with the advice and consent of the Governor's Council under Article IV of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution. The Secretary of the Commonwealth administers the oath of office and maintains the commissions.