Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Apostille Authentication 518-956-5673

Self-Service Guide for Notarization and Authentication by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

There are two types of authentication by the Secretary of the Commonwealth: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. Apostille, also known as "Hague Authentication," can only be used within member countries of the Hague Convention. Since Chinese consulates are currently not part of the "Hague Convention member countries," only the "Certificate of Authentication" can be submitted to Chinese consulates in the United States.

If you do not have time to handle the process yourself, you can contact CHV for代办 services by adding 1-518-956-5673 (US). We provide notarization and authentication services for personal or corporate documents from all 50 U.S. states, including consular three-level authentication or Hague Authentication. Expedited processing is available, with completion in as fast as 3 business days.

In-Person Processing:

Massachusetts
Public Records Division Commissions Section
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108

Southeastern District Office (walk-in service)
Secretary of the Commonwealth
218 South Main St., Suite 206
Fall River, MA 02721

Western District Office (walk-in service)
Secretary of the Commonwealth
436 Dwight St., Rm. 102
Springfield, MA 01103

Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/precom/comidx.htm

Mail Processing:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Public Records Division Commissions Section
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108

Reminders for Massachusetts Notarization and Authentication

To obtain Hague Authentication or Authentication from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin, at the Boston office, please follow these guidelines: Only documents issued in Massachusetts can be processed for Hague Authentication or Authentication.

Please adhere to the following guidelines to ensure your documents are eligible for Hague Authentication or Authentication.

Notes on Notarized Documents:

After notarization, the document must be certified by the county clerk where the notary is registered. Please note that documents signed by a Justice of the Peace, municipal/town clerk, or clerk magistrate can be processed for Hague Authentication or Authentication. Ensure the document includes the notary’s signature, date, and a confirmation or affidavit statement.

Birth, marriage, and death certificates must be issued and signed by the current State Registrar of Vital Statistics, Stanley E. Nyberg.
Please note that Massachusetts notaries cannot notarize copies of vital records.

Marriage certificates in Massachusetts, signed by the town clerk, can be processed for Hague Authentication or Authentication.

If you need a new copy of a certificate, please contact the Department of Health and Human Services: 150 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester, MA 02125

Phone: (617) 740-2600 or visit: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/

For school records, such as admissions, degrees, transcripts, certificates, and diplomas issued by institutions like MIT, Harvard University, Boston University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Boston College, a notarized copy must be issued by the school’s registrar.

To obtain copies of court documents, please contact any of the 14 counties in Massachusetts: Barnstable, Franklin, Norfolk, Berkshire, Hampton, Plymouth, Bristol, Hampshire, Suffolk, Dukes, Middlesex, Worcester, Essex, and Nantucket.