Section 1A. Justices of the peace and notaries public shall be appointed and their commissions shall be issued for the commonwealth. Justices of the peace and notaries public shall have jurisdiction throughout the commonwealth when acting under the sole authority of such a commission and shall perform their duties subject to sections 8 to 26, inclusive. Unless otherwise expressly provided, justices of the peace and notaries public may administer oaths or affirmations in all cases in which an oath or affirmation is required and take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers
Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners
Section 1a - Appointment and Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace and Notaries Public
Section 3 - Appointment of Commissioners to Administer Oaths of Office; Returns; Fees
Section 4 - Appointment of Commissioners; Term
Section 7 - Instructions to Commissioner
Section 9 - Acting as Justice or Notary After Expiration of Commission; Penalty
Section 10 - Destruction of Notary's Records; Penalty
Section 11 - Acknowledgments by Persons in Armed Forces or Their Dependents
Section 12 - Exemptions From Maintaining Journal of Notary Transactions
Section 13 - Qualifications; Grounds for Denial of Application for Appointment
Section 14 - Term of Commission
Section 16 - Notarial Acts That Should Not Be Performed; Prohibited Actions by Notary Public
Section 19 - Duty to Perform Notarial Act Upon Payment of Fee; Exceptions
Section 21 - Advertisements for Notarial Services in Language Other Than English
Section 23 - Fees Not to Be Charged for Certain Notarial Acts
Section 25 - Change of Name or Address; Notice to State Secretary