Remote Online Notarization in Massachusetts: What’s the Current Status?

What still has to happen first

Before a Massachusetts-commissioned notary can perform a remote or electronic notarization, the Secretary of the Commonwealth must:

• Adopt official regulations. The Secretary must set standards for communication technology and identity proofing, in line with national standards.
• Approve technology providers. The Secretary must also keep a registry of communication technology providers that meet those standards.
• Provide training. The Secretary may require notaries to complete a course of up to 3 hours before their first remote notarization.
• Launch the registration process. Before a first remote notarization, a notary must register as a remote notary with the Secretary and identify the technology they’ll use.

As of 2026, the Secretary has not yet published the official RON training modules or the notification form. There is no confirmed launch date.

What the law will allow once it’s live

• Notary location: The notary must be physically in Massachusetts during the notarization.
• Signer location: The signer can be located outside Massachusetts, including in foreign countries, which is a major change from the temporary pandemic-era rules.
• Identity verification: The Secretary will set the identity-proofing standards. Credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication are common in other states, but Massachusetts hasn’t finalised its requirements.
• Recording: Recordings of remote notarizations must be kept for 10 years.
• Real estate: Massachusetts requires an attorney for real estate closings, and the new law keeps the attorney’s role.

What this means for you

Until the Secretary’s rules and registration process are in place, you can’t legally have a document remotely notarized under the new law. Check mass.gov (Secretary of the Commonwealth, Notary Public Division) for updates before relying on RON for any signing.