Bill > H4716

This bill modernizes notary services in Massachusetts by: 1. Expanding the definition of "appears in person" to include remote interactions using communication technology, subject to certain identity verification and security requirements. 2. Allowing notaries to use electronic seals and journals, and permitting remote notarizations for certain documents, with additional regulations and standards established by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. 3. Clarifying that notaries may charge a technology services fee to cover the costs of using third-party providers for remote notarization. 4. Granting the Secretary authority to enforce compliance with remote notarization requirements. 5. Establishing that only Massachusetts-licensed attorneys or those directly supervised by such attorneys may perform remote notarizations for real estate closings involving residential property. The bill is intended to update Massachusetts law to reflect evolving technology and practices for notary services, while maintaining safeguards, especially for sensitive real estate transactions.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on the Judiciary (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4716