Remote Online
Notarization in
Massachusetts
The law passed. The training form did not. Here is exactly where Massachusetts RON stands right now — what is legal, what is not, and what that means for anyone who needs a document notarized today.
authorized in MA
registered for RON
form published
available statewide
Massachusetts Authorized RON.
Then Stopped.
On March 29, 2023, Governor Maura Healey signed Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023 into law — authorizing permanent remote online notarization in Massachusetts under G.L. c.222 §28, effective January 1, 2024. It was a significant development. Massachusetts became the 43rd state to authorize RON.
But authorization is not the same as availability. The statute explicitly requires the Secretary of Commonwealth to first adopt and promulgate protocols, approvals, and regulations before any notary can register to perform RON. As of April 2026 — more than two years after the law’s effective date — the Secretary has not published those regulations, the required notary training modules, or the online notification form.
“Notaries public can use online communications platforms to perform their duties. However, they first must complete training and notify our office through an online notification form. The training and notification form aren’t yet available, so notaries shouldn’t use online remote platforms at this time.”
— Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth, mass.gov/divisions/commissions/remote-online.htm (April 2026)No Massachusetts notary can legally perform RON today. Any notary claiming to perform RON under Massachusetts law is acting without the required registration, training, or regulatory compliance. The Secretary’s own guidance is explicit: do not use online remote platforms at this time.
The Massachusetts RON Timeline
Understanding the current status requires knowing the history — RON has been authorized, suspended, and re-authorized in Massachusetts multiple times. Here is the full record.
Temporary RON Authorized Under Chapter 71
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts authorized temporary RON under emergency measures. Physical documents were still required — signers and notaries each had to be in Massachusetts. Documents were signed in wet ink and a Zoom recording was required to be retained for ten years.
COVID-Era RON Authorization Expired
Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022 extended the pandemic RON authorization, but that extension expired. Remote online notarizations were no longer permitted in Massachusetts.
Governor Healey Signs Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023
Permanent RON authorized under G.L. c.222 §28. Effective January 1, 2024, subject to regulations from the Secretary. Key provisions: notary must be physically in Massachusetts, signer may be anywhere, electronic seal permitted, third-party identity verification platform required. Real estate closings involving mortgages or title conveyances must be supervised by an attorney.
Statutory Effective Date — But No Regulations Published
The law’s provisions became effective, but Secretary Galvin had not promulgated the required regulations. Without those regulations, no notary can complete the required registration or training. RON remains unavailable.
Secretary Issues RFI for RON Technology Platforms
The Secretary of Commonwealth issued a Request for Information from RON technology providers, with a deadline of April 16, 2024. This was a step toward selecting approved platforms, but regulations and registration forms were still not published.
Training and Notification Form Still Not Available
As of this page’s last update, the Secretary’s website continues to state that the training and notification form are not yet available and that notaries should not use online remote platforms. The gap between statutory authorization and operational availability remains open.
What Massachusetts RON
Will Look Like
When the Secretary publishes the required regulations and registration process, Massachusetts RON will have specific requirements that differ significantly from the COVID-era process and from how RON works in most other states.
What Massachusetts RON Will Require
The notary must be physically located in Massachusetts. The signer may be anywhere in the world. The notary must register with the Secretary of Commonwealth and complete approved training before performing any RON. An approved third-party identity verification platform is required. Electronic notarial seal and electronic journal replace the physical stamp. All documents must comply with the notarial forms under M.G.L. c.222 §15.
The Attorney Requirement — Massachusetts Is Different
Massachusetts made legal history with one provision of the new RON law: any closing document involving a mortgage or conveyance of title must be notarized by an attorney or by an individual under the direct supervision of an attorney. This means RON cannot replace a loan signing agent acting independently for real estate closings — even after it becomes available. Massachusetts remains an attorney-closing state under RON, just as it is under in-person notarization.
RON will likely be available for straightforward document types — powers of attorney, affidavits, business agreements, and similar notarizations — where the signer and notary do not need to be in the same room. It will not replace in-person notarization for: real estate closings (attorney supervision required), hospital and bedside signings (cognizance assessment requires physical presence), documents requiring physical witnesses, or any situation where the client or institution specifically requires wet-ink in-person notarization.
RON vs. Mobile In-Person Notary
in Massachusetts
| Factor | Remote Online (RON) | Mobile In-Person Notary |
|---|---|---|
| Available in MA right now? | ✗ Not yet | ✓ Yes — same-day |
| Real estate closings | Attorney supervision required when available | ✓ NNA certified agent available now |
| Hospital / bedside signings | ✗ Not practical — cognizance requires in-person | ✓ Naleeyah specializes in care facilities |
| Registry of Deeds recording | Pending Land Court guidance | ✓ Accepted — standard process |
| DS-3053 passport consent | Potentially — State Dept. acceptance varies | ✓ Accepted — wet-ink is universally recognized |
| Signer location | Anywhere in the world (when available) | Massachusetts — we come to you |
| Languages supported | Varies by platform | ✓ English, Arabic, French |
| Identity verification method | Third-party platform + KBA questions | Government-issued photo ID in person |
| Cost uncertainty | Platform fees + notary fees | Transparent zone rates — Zone I–III |
Can an Out-of-State Notary
Notarize My Massachusetts Documents?
Some online notarization platforms offer RON through notaries commissioned in states that have fully implemented RON (such as Virginia, Florida, or Texas). Massachusetts law does recognize notarial acts performed in other states under M.G.L. c.183 §§30 and 41 and c.233 §73 — but acceptance of out-of-state RON notarizations by Massachusetts institutions varies significantly.
The Massachusetts Registry of Deeds has not issued guidance confirming it will accept electronically notarized registered land documents until the Secretary of Commonwealth completes the regulatory process under G.L. c.222 §28. Most Massachusetts Registry offices continue to require in-person wet-ink notarizations for recording purposes.
Always confirm with the institution, registry, court, or agency receiving your document that they will accept an electronically notarized version from an out-of-state notary. For real estate recordings, Registry of Deeds filings, and most financial institution documents in Massachusetts, in-person wet-ink notarization remains the safest and most universally accepted option in 2026.
This page is monitored and updated when the Secretary of Commonwealth publishes the RON training form, notification form, or approved platform list. When Massachusetts RON becomes operationally available, we will update this page and assess whether and how to integrate RON services. Content reviewed by James Lumas, Lead Editor.
While You Wait for RON,
We Come to You.
RON may be the future of notarization in Massachusetts. Today, it is not available. Your documents cannot wait for a law to finish implementing. Mobile in-person notarization through HireMobileNotary.com is available today — same-day, 7 days a week, statewide — with no uncertainty about whether the institution receiving your document will accept it.
Book a Mobile Notary
Available now — no RON registration required
Frequently Asked About RON in Massachusetts
The five most searched questions about remote online notarization in Massachusetts — answered accurately, with primary source citations.
Content reviewed by James Lumas, Lead Editor.
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Is RON legal in Massachusetts right now?−
RON is authorized by statute (Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, effective January 1, 2024) but is not yet operationally legal. The Secretary of Commonwealth must publish training modules and a notary notification form before any notary can register to perform RON. As of April 2026, those materials have not been published. The Secretary’s official guidance states: notaries should not use online remote platforms at this time.
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Can I get notarized online from Massachusetts right now?+
Not through a Massachusetts-commissioned notary performing MA RON. Some platforms connect signers with out-of-state notaries using interstate recognition laws — but whether the resulting notarization is accepted depends entirely on where you are submitting the document. Massachusetts Registry of Deeds offices, courts, and most financial institutions continue to require wet-ink in-person notarizations. For any document that needs to be recorded or submitted to a Massachusetts institution, in-person mobile notarization is the safe choice in 2026.
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What will Massachusetts RON require when available?+
Under G.L. c.222 §28, Massachusetts RON will require: the notary to be physically in Massachusetts; completion of Secretary-approved training; registration with the Secretary and identification of the technology platform to be used; use of a third-party platform for identity verification (two forms of ID plus knowledge-based authentication questions); an electronic notarial seal; and an electronic journal. Real estate closings involving mortgages or title conveyances must still involve a supervising attorney.
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Will RON be available for real estate closings in Massachusetts?+
Only under attorney supervision. Massachusetts made history by being the first state to require that any RON notarization of a mortgage or title conveyance document be performed by an attorney or someone under an attorney’s direct supervision. This means RON will not replace independent mobile loan signing agents for real estate closings in Massachusetts. The attorney-state requirement applies equally to in-person and remote notarization.
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When will Massachusetts RON actually be available?+
There is no published timeline. The Secretary of Commonwealth issued a Request for Information from RON technology platforms in early 2024, but has not announced a target date for publishing regulations, training modules, or the notary registration form. This page is updated when the status changes — check sec.state.ma.us for the most current official status.
This page was last updated April 26, 2026. Legal status of Massachusetts RON sourced directly from sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commissions/remote-online.htm, G.L. c.222 §28, Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, and the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth’s official memo on RON implementation. Content reviewed by James Lumas, Lead Editor. HireMobileNotary.com is not a law firm. This page is informational only. Consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney for legal advice about your specific notarization needs. Monitor sec.state.ma.us for the most current official RON status.