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 8 Acknowledgment of instrument; printed or typed name; expiration date

[ Text of section effective until January 4, 2017. For text effective January 4, 2017, see below.]

  Section 8. A justice of the peace or notary public, when taking acknowledgment of any instrument provided by law to be recorded, shall print or type his name directly below his signature and affix thereto the date of the expiration of his commission in the following language: "My commission expires _____''. Failure to comply with this section shall not affect the validity of any instrument, or the record thereof.

Chapter 222: Section 8. Acknowledgment of instrument; printed or typed name; expiration date; official notarial seal or stamp

[ Text of section as amended by 2016, 289, Sec. 4 effective January 4, 2017 applicable as provided by 2016, 289, Sec. 7. For text effective until January 4, 2017, see above.]

  Section 8. (a) When taking an acknowledgment of an instrument or administering an oath for an instrument filed in court, a justice of the peace, notary public or other person duly authorized shall print or type such justice of the peace, notary public or other person's name directly below such person's signature and affix thereto the date of the expiration of such person's commission in the following language: "My commission expires _____.''

  (b) A notary public shall keep an official notarial seal or stamp that shall be the exclusive property of the notary public. A notary public shall not permit another to use such notarial seal or stamp. A notary public shall obtain a new seal or stamp upon renewal of the commission, upon receipt of a new commission or if the name of the notary public has changed. The notarial seal or stamp shall include: (i) the notary public's name exactly as indicated on the commission; (ii) the words "notary public'' and "Commonwealth of Massachusetts'' or "Massachusetts''; (iii) the expiration date of the commission in the following words: "My commission expires _____''; and (iv) a facsimile of the seal of the commonwealth. If a notarial seal that requires ink is employed, black ink shall be used. The requirements of this subsection shall be satisfied by using a stamp and a seal that, together, include all of the information required by this section. Failure to comply with this section shall not affect the validity of any instrument or the record thereof.