We Retrieve Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Certified Copies and Apostille Them for You

When you need official Massachusetts business documents certified and legalized for use outside the United States, Boston Notary Service makes the process simple, fast, and reliable.

We retrieve certified copies directly from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division — the official recordkeeper for all Massachusetts business entities — and then obtain the proper apostille or authentication certificate for international use.

Our service is trusted by law firms, corporations, and entrepreneurs worldwide who require Massachusetts-issued documents recognized abroad.

🔹 What Is a Certified Copy from the Secretary of the Commonwealth?

A certified copy is an official duplicate of a document that was filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. It includes:

• The embossed state seal,
• The signature of the Secretary or authorized officer, and
• A statement confirming that it is a “true and correct copy” of the document on record.

These certified copies are accepted internationally — and when an apostille is attached, they become legally valid in any Hague Convention member country.

🔹 Documents We Can Retrieve and Apostille from the Secretary of the Commonwealth

The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division maintains thousands of business filings. These are the official documents that can be retrieved, certified, and apostilled for international use.

Below is the verified list directly based on the Massachusetts Corporations Division’s official offerings:

1. Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Legal Existence)

We can retrieve an official Certificate of Good Standing directly from the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
This document verifies that your Massachusetts corporation, LLC, or nonprofit is active, compliant, and authorized to do business.
✅ Ideal for: international banking, foreign business registration, trade compliance, and licensing abroad.

2. Certified Copy of Articles of Incorporation or Organization

The foundation of every Massachusetts company begins with its Articles.
We retrieve true certified copies of Articles of Incorporation (for corporations) or Articles of Organization (for LLCs) filed with the Secretary’s Corporations Division.
These copies include the official state seal and signature, making them eligible for apostille and international submission.
✅ Commonly required for corporate registration in foreign jurisdictions or mergers.

3. Certified Amendments and Restated Articles

If your business filed changes such as a new company name, address, or ownership structure, those amendments are part of the public record.
We can retrieve certified copies of any amendment or restatement and apostille them for global legal or financial compliance.

4. Certified Mergers, Conversions, or Dissolutions

Massachusetts businesses frequently require evidence of mergers or conversions (e.g., from LLC to corporation).
We obtain certified copies of these filings directly from the Secretary’s database and submit them for apostille.
✅ Essential for proving business continuity or closure to foreign regulators.

5. Certified Annual Reports and Statement of Change Filings

The Corporations Division archives annual reports and management updates for all Massachusetts entities.
We retrieve certified copies of annual reports or officer/director changes and have them apostilled for use abroad.
✅ Used for compliance verification, corporate ownership checks, and due diligence.

6. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) Certified Search Reports

The Secretary’s UCC Division issues certified lien search reports confirming whether a business has outstanding secured transactions or encumbrances.
We can request certified UCC search results, then apostille them for international banking or cross-border lending.
✅ Critical for financial institutions and investors verifying corporate status.

7. Certificates of Name Availability or Reservation

If a Massachusetts company has reserved a name or obtained approval for a new one, we can retrieve certified copies of name reservation or availability certificates and have them apostilled.
✅ Common for multinational brand protection or trademark filings.

8. Certified Filings for Limited Partnerships (LPs) and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

We retrieve certified copies of registrations, amendments, and cancellations filed for Massachusetts LPs and LLPs.
✅ Used for legal proof of entity structure in foreign contract law and taxation.

9. Certified Registration for Foreign (Out-of-State) Corporations Doing Business in Massachusetts

Out-of-state entities that register to conduct business in Massachusetts can obtain a certified copy of their authority to transact business.
Boston Notary Service can retrieve this certificate and apostille it for international recognition.
✅ Useful when foreign parent companies or branches require verification of U.S. subsidiary registration.

10. Certified Copies for Professional Corporations (PCs) and Nonprofits

We also assist nonprofits, law firms, and professional corporations in retrieving certified copies of their foundational or compliance filings.
Once retrieved, these documents can be apostilled for overseas grant applications, partnerships, or compliance with foreign authorities.

🔹 Verification and Official Source

All the document types listed above are explicitly handled and issued by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, specifically the Corporations Division.

⚠️ Important Clarifications

While Boston Notary Service retrieves and apostilles documents issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, some records — such as birth, marriage, death certificates or court judgments — are issued by other agencies (like the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records or Trial Court).
We handle those separately through our vital records retrieval service, but they do not originate at the Secretary’s Corporations Division.

🔹 Our Process

1. We Retrieve the Certified Copy
   We place your document request directly with the Secretary’s Corporations Division.
2. We Verify the Seal and Signature
   Each document must bear the embossed Massachusetts state seal and the Secretary’s signature for apostille eligibility.
3. We Submit for Apostille
   We personally deliver the document to the Commissions Section of the Secretary’s office for apostille processing.
4. We Return It to You Worldwide
   Apostilled documents are scanned, tracked, and shipped securely via your preferred delivery method.

🔹 Why Choose Boston Notary Service

• Decades of Massachusetts document experience.
• In-person retrieval from the Galvin Building in Boston.
• Apostille service recognized by embassies and global institutions.
• Trusted by law firms, schools, and corporations worldwide.
• Serving all of Massachusetts: Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Back Bay, Seaport District, and beyond.

🔹 Contact Boston Notary Service

Let our team handle the official retrieval and apostille of your Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth certified documents.
We take care of every step — quickly, securely, and professionally.

📍 Boston Notary Service
📧 info@bostonnotaryservice.us
📞 617-230-6676
🌐 https://bostonnotaryservice.us/apply-here