James Lumas 
Employers and HR · Massachusetts Remote I-9 Verification in 2026 for Massachusetts Employers: E-Verify Alternative Procedure vs an Authorized Representative A Massachusetts employer can verify a remote hire's I-9 documents over live video only if it is enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing, under the DHS alternative procedure in … Read more
Homeowner documents · Massachusetts Massachusetts Declaration of Homestead: How to Notarize It, Who Signs, and Where to Record It Under c.188 A Massachusetts Declaration of Homestead must be signed by every owner, acknowledged before a notary public, and recorded at the Registry of Deeds for the county where the home … Read more
Immigration documents · Massachusetts Does a USCIS Translation Need to Be Notarized? Certified vs Notarized Translation, and When Massachusetts Still Needs the Notary No. USCIS does not require translations to be notarized. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), a foreign-language document needs a full English translation and a signed certification from the … Read more
Hospital and elder signings · Massachusetts Can Someone With Dementia Sign Before a Notary in Massachusetts? Capacity, Willingness and What Happens at the Bedside A dementia diagnosis does not by itself stop a notarization in Massachusetts. The notary must be satisfied, in a private conversation, that the signer knows what … Read more
Notary rules · Massachusetts Can a Notary Notarize for a Family Member in Massachusetts? The c.222 s.16 List, Beneficial Interest and What to Do Instead Not for close family. Under M.G.L. c.222 s.16, a Massachusetts notary cannot notarize for a spouse, domestic partner, parent, guardian, child or sibling, including in-law, … Read more
Family law documents · Massachusetts Getting a Separation Agreement Notarized in Massachusetts for a 1A Divorce: Who Signs, Where, and How a Mobile Notary Helps Yes. To get a separation agreement notarized in Massachusetts for a 1A uncontested divorce, each spouse acknowledges their signature before a notary, and the affidavit … Read more
Loan signing · Massachusetts Massachusetts Is an Attorney Closing State: What a Notary Signing Agent Can and Cannot Do Massachusetts is an attorney closing state: a licensed Massachusetts attorney must conduct every residential real estate closing, and a notary who is not an attorney may not run one. A notary … Read more
Notary fees · Massachusetts Is There a Maximum Notary Fee in Massachusetts? The $1.25 Myth, the UPS Store Case, and What Boston Notaries Really Charge Massachusetts has no general maximum notary fee. The $1.25 figure people quote comes from an 1836 statute, M.G.L. c.262 s.41, and the Supreme Judicial Court … Read more
Notary near me · Boston Free and $5 Notary Options in Boston (City Hall, Library, Banks, UPS) and When a Mobile Notary Is Worth It Yes. You can get a document notarized free or for $5 in Boston. The Boston Public Library notarizes at no charge during scheduled sessions, the … Read more
Estate documents · Massachusetts Does a Will Need to Be Notarized in Massachusetts? Witnesses, the Self-Proving Affidavit, and Why the Notary Cannot Be a Witness No. A Massachusetts will does not need to be notarized to be valid. A valid will is a written document signed by the testator and … Read more