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Notary Services Guidelines

The Town Clerk’s office provides Notary services as a courtesy to Princeton residents. The Town Clerk's office will not provide Notary services for some documents including: copy certifications (such as copies of vital records), powers of attorney, wills, living wills, living trusts, irrevocable trusts, trusts, codicils or depositions, deeds, real estate closings, and certain types of financial documents such as mortgages.

CHAPTER 222 of MGL, AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 289 OF THE ACTS OF 2016 (Effective January 4, 2017)

Real Estate Transactions - must be notarized by an attorney or employed by an attorney

MGL Ch. 222 § 17.       (e)    A notary public who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the commonwealth shall not conduct a real estate closing and shall not act as a real estate closing agent; provided, however, that a notary public who is employed by an attorney so licensed may notarize a document in conjunction with a real estate closing conducted by the attorney and a notary public who is employed by a lender may notarize a document in conjunction with the closing of such lender’s real estate loans.

Wills - compelling doubt about whether the principal knows the consequences of the transaction or document requiring the notarial act

§ 19.    A notary public shall perform a notarial act for any person requesting such act who tenders the fee provided for in section 41 of chapter 262 or any other general or special law or executive order, unless: (i) the notary public knows or has reason to believe that the notarial act or the associated transaction is unlawful; (ii) the principal has a demeanor that causes the notary public to have a compelling doubt about whether the principal knows the consequences of the transaction or document requiring the notarial act; (iii) the act is prohibited by this chapter or any other applicable law; or (iv) the number of notarial acts requested practicably precludes completion of all acts at once, in which case, the notary public shall arrange for later completion of the remaining acts.

Please call in advance to verify that your document can be notarized.

The following guidelines will be followed in the provision of Notary Service:

  • Notary Services are available during normal business hours, to ensure that a Notary is on duty and available to assist you, please call the Town Clerk or Assessor's office for Notary availability prior to stopping by.
  • A valid, government-issued photo identification is required of any customer seeking Notary Service.
  • The document(s) CANNOT already have been signed nor dated.
  • All signers must be present at the time of notarizing.
  • If your document requires a witness(s), they must accompany you.
  • The Notary is stating they have witnessed the document being signed
  • The document must contain the appropriate Notarial Statement or Clause, or one will be stamped on the document by the Notary.
  • Documents in any language other than English will not be notarized at this facility.
  • Certain public documents cannot be copied and notarized.  Examples of these are birth, marriage and death certificates.
  • Massachusetts law requires that a Notary and the person seeking notarization be able to communicate directly with each other. 
  • This service is provided free of charge.
  • In accordance with Massachusetts Notarial Law, Notaries will not provide service if the customer, document or circumstances of the request for Notary Service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty.  In this event, the Notary may, at his/her sole discretion, decline to provide Notary Services.
  • Additionally banks, law offices, office supply stores, AAA locations, insurance locations and shipping and mailing services offer notary services, but may charge a fee. 

Questions and Appointments regarding Notary services please contact the Town Clerk’s office at 978-464-2103 or by email at townclerk@town.princeton.ma.us