2017 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 11 Acknowledgments by persons in armed forces or their dependents
[ First paragraph effective until January 4, 2017. For text effective January 4, 2017, see below.]
Section 11. Persons serving in or with the armed forces of the commonwealth or the United States or their dependents, wherever located, may acknowledge any instrument in the manner and form required by law, before any commissioned officer in the active service of the armed forces of the commonwealth or the United States with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the army, air force or marine corps or ensign or higher in the navy or United States coast guard. Any such instrument shall contain a statement that the person executing the instrument is serving in or with the armed forces of the commonwealth or the United States or is a dependent of a person serving in or with the armed forces of the commonwealth or the United States. No such instrument shall be rendered invalid by the failure to state in the instrument the place of execution or acknowledgment.
[ First paragraph as amended by 2016, 289, Sec. 5 effective January 4, 2017 applicable as provided by 2016, 289, Sec. 7. For text effective until January 4, 2017, see above.]
Persons serving in or with the armed forces of the commonwealth or other reserve component commands when conducting mobilization exercises and soldier readiness processing or the armed forces of the United States or their dependents, wherever located, may acknowledge any instrument in the manner and form required by law before a commissioned officer in the active service of the armed forces of the commonwealth or the United States with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the army, air force or marine corps or ensign or higher in the navy or United States Coast Guard. Any such instrument shall contain a statement that the person executing the instrument is serving in or with the armed forces of the commonwealth or other reserve component command when conducting mobilization exercises and soldier readiness processing or the armed forces of the United States or is a dependent of any such person. No such instrument shall be rendered invalid by the failure to state in the instrument the place of execution or acknowledgment.
No authentication of the officer's certificate of acknowledgment shall be required.
Instruments so acknowledged outside of the commonwealth, if otherwise in accordance with the law, shall be received and may be used in evidence or for any other purpose in the same manner as if taken before a commissioner of the commonwealth appointed to take depositions in other states.
