Frequently Asked Questions

An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country where the Hague Apostille Convention applies. It verifies the official signature, capacity and seal; it does not certify the document’s contents or guarantee acceptance for a particular purpose. The correct route depends on the issuing authority, destination country and recipient’s instructions. Common requests include certified vital records, court records, school documents, notarized affidavits and corporate records. A passport-copy request needs its own permitted certification process; the passport itself is not simply apostilled. Check current country participation and effective dates in the HCCH status table: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41. Start an Apostille Request and share your document, destination and deadline so we can review the route.

The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth issues apostilles for eligible Massachusetts documents. To file directly in Boston, visit the Commissions Section at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, or follow the state’s mail instructions. Prepare the state form and include the destination country. Boston Notary Service can review eligibility, coordinate document preparation or retrieval when needed, and arrange submission and return delivery. Read the official filing instructions or review your document options.

For eligible Massachusetts documents, the Boston state counter can handle up to three documents per customer. The state lists pickup after 3 p.m. the next business day for four or more, and next-business-day pickup for drop-offs after 4 p.m. Mailed requests take two to three weeks to process, plus transit. Allow time for any record retrieval, registrar preparation or notarization before filing, and for delivery afterward. Share the date the documents must arrive so we can check available expedited handling. Check the official Massachusetts instructions or request a timing estimate.

Your receiving authority decides whether it needs an FBI Identity History Summary and an apostille or authentication. FBI reports follow the federal route through the U.S. Department of State, separate from Massachusetts-issued documents. As checked October 24, 2026, the Department of State lists processing within 7 business days for routine drop-off requests and within 5 weeks of receipt for mail requests. Add document preparation, transit and return delivery time. Routine same-day federal processing is not offered; approved life-or-death emergency appointments have separate eligibility requirements. We confirm the current route and estimate before you approve service. Official processing guidance: https://travel.state.gov/en/replace-certify/authenticate-documents/request-services.html

We currently offer traditional in-person notarization, including mobile appointments. Massachusetts has enacted remote online notarization legislation, but implementation requirements still matter. As checked October 24, 2026, Massachusetts’ official guidance says the required training and notification form are not yet available and notaries should not use remote online platforms at this time. We will confirm availability against the state’s current requirements before offering this service. Official guidance: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-notaries-public

Boston Notary Service coordinates in-person visits across Boston and Greater Boston, including Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton, Quincy and nearby towns. If your address is farther out, share the ZIP code so we can check travel and availability. You can start an apostille, authentication, FBI or embassy legalization request online from anywhere. Tell us where your document was issued and where it will be used. We’ll explain which originals or certified copies are needed and how to send them after we confirm the plan. Request a mobile notary or start an apostille request.

Yes. Boston Notary Service makes home visits by appointment in Boston and nearby communities. We also review requests for evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and same-day appointments. Availability depends on your address, travel time and the signing requirements. Send your ZIP code, document type, number of signers and two workable time windows. For an urgent request, call (617) 230-6676 with the latest time you can meet. We confirm the visit and quote before you make arrangements. Request a mobile notary visit.

Yes. Our team is fully bilingual, providing clear guidance in English and Spanish at every step — from your initial call through document review, notarization, and final delivery — so language is never a barrier to getting your documents handled correctly.

Yes — we offer print, scan, and shipping support for your notarized and apostilled documents, so you don't need to coordinate a separate print shop or shipping provider. We can print documents you send digitally, scan completed originals for your records, and securely ship your finished documents domestically or internationally.

We quote mobile notary visits based on the address, timing, number of signers and notarizations, and any agreed printing, waiting or return delivery. Apostille quotes depend on the document count, issuing authority, preparation, government charges and shipping. We’ll confirm what your quote covers before you book. For routine paperwork and an in-person option, check the Boston City Clerk’s walk-in notary service or the Boston Public Library’s notary locations and hours. Review each location’s document requirements before going. Request a written quote.

Yes. When the Hague Apostille Convention does not apply between the issuing and receiving countries, authentication and embassy or consulate legalization may be required. The steps depend on the document, issuing authority and destination’s instructions; an apostille and consular legalization are not automatically both needed. Share the destination country and the recipient’s written requirements. We review the certification route, submission requirements, fees and estimated timing before coordinating the agreed work. Country participation and effective dates can change; check the current HCCH status table at https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41.

Yes. If your document needs both steps, Boston Notary Service can help coordinate a mobile notarization and then the eligible apostille or authentication. A privately signed power of attorney and a certified birth certificate typically need different preparation. Send the document type, issuing authority, destination country and recipient’s written instructions so we can confirm which steps apply before scheduling. Start an apostille and notarization request.

Boston Notary Service can help coordinate apostille preparation for Massachusetts diplomas, transcripts and enrollment letters. Start by asking the receiving organization which record it needs and whether it requires a school-certified copy, a notarized registrar signature or another format. The registrar’s process varies by school and by document. Share your university or school, document type, destination, deadline and whether you already have the record. We’ll review preparation, any authorized pickup or mailing, and return delivery. Find the university document preparation guide.

For an appointment, have a current government-issued photo ID ready for each signer. Examples include a driver’s license, state ID or passport. If a name differs from the paperwork or a signer lacks a standard ID, contact us before booking so we can review the details. Bring the final document and the recipient’s instructions. Ask before signing in advance. If your document requires witnesses, confirm the requirements with the preparer and arrange them before the appointment. See the mobile notary appointment checklist.

Yes. We can help coordinate eligible requests for Massachusetts birth, marriage and death certificates, Negative Statements, certified corporate records and court documents. Eligibility, authorization, record availability and issuing-office requirements apply. A Negative Statement reports the result of an official records search. It is different from a single-status affidavit, which is a sworn statement. The receiving authority determines which evidence it accepts. Vital and court records generally require a certified copy from the appropriate issuing office. Other document types may allow a properly notarized copy or statement when legally permitted and accepted by the recipient. We review the document-specific route before arranging retrieval, any necessary notarization, apostille or authentication, and return delivery.

Review the certificate for the notary’s name, signature, seal and the date of the act. Compare the commission expiration shown on the seal with the date the document was notarized. The receiving organization can tell you what it requires for acceptance. For help checking a Massachusetts commission record, contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Commissions Section. See the Massachusetts notarial seal requirements.

Read customer feedback on the Boston Notary Service Google listing. For a mobile appointment, you can ask for the assigned notary’s commissioned name in advance. The Massachusetts Commissions Section maintains commission records. If your attorney, lender or company requests particular signing-agent credentials or proof of insurance, tell us what it needs when you request the appointment.