Frequently Asked Questions

We come to you. Parker Visual Notary Services is entirely mobile and appointment-based. There is no walk-in office. We travel to your home, office, hospital, care facility, hotel, or another agreed-upon location within our service area.

The easiest way is to submit a request using our online form. You can also reach us by text at 516-519-0950 or by email at Hello@PVBostonNotary.com. We review each request and confirm availability — most requests receive a response within one business day. Appointment requests are not guaranteed until confirmed. Once we reach out to confirm the booking, a deposit is required to secure it.

Standard weekday appointments begin at $125, which includes travel within our service area and the first notarial act. Evening appointments (after 5pm) start at $175; weekend appointments start at $200. Rush and same-day appointments carry an additional $75 premium and are subject to availability. Document support add-ons are available at flat, clearly stated rates. View our full pricing page for complete details.

Yes, in some cases. Military, first responder, teacher, healthcare worker, student, and repeat-client discounts may be available, and some require verification. Discounts are not combined with promo-priced offers such as Weekday Simple Signing. If you think you may qualify, please contact us to discuss before booking.

Massachusetts law requires satisfactory evidence of identity before a notarization can be performed. In most appointments, that means one current government-issued ID with the signer's photo and signature, such as a driver's license, state-issued ID card, or passport. In limited situations, identity may also be established through the notary's personal knowledge of the signer or a credible witness who is personally known to the notary and personally knows the signer. Expired IDs, school IDs, work badges, and similar non-government credentials generally are not accepted. Please make sure each signer has qualifying ID available before the appointment.

We perform standard notarial acts as authorized under Massachusetts law — acknowledgments, jurats, oaths and affirmations, affidavits, signature witnessing, and certain copy certifications. Common document examples include powers of attorney, healthcare and personal directive documents, affidavits and sworn statements, consent forms, school and employment forms, business documents, and general administrative documents. We do not provide legal advice on what your document requires.

Yes, in many cases. We can provide mobile I-9 support when an employer designates us as its authorized representative for Section 2 completion. This is not a notarization of the Form I-9 itself, and a notary seal is not placed on the I-9 unless a separate notarial certificate is required for a different document. Employers remain responsible for their own I-9 compliance requirements.

Massachusetts wills often require witnesses, and notarization does not replace witness requirements. We can assist with signing appointments for wills and estate planning packages and may notarize a self-proving affidavit or related documents when appropriate, but we do not advise on execution requirements or provide legal advice. Please follow your attorney's instructions and consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney with legal questions.

No. Parker Visual Notary Services does not provide legal advice, draft or prepare documents, or advise on which notarial act is required for a specific document or situation. If you have legal questions about your documents, please consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney.

Yes. We provide mobile notary appointments at Boston-area hospitals, healthcare facilities, assisted living communities, and nursing homes. These appointments benefit from some advance planning — please confirm facility visitor policies, ensure the signer has valid ID accessible, and let us know about any specific considerations when submitting your request.

Yes, when scheduling permits. An appointment counts as rush when it is booked within 24 hours of the requested appointment time, or requested for the same calendar day. Rush appointments carry an additional $75 fee on top of the applicable base rate and require a $100 deposit rather than the standard $50. They are always subject to availability and are never guaranteed until confirmed. Please submit your request as early as possible and indicate the urgency clearly in your notes.

One rule, applied consistently: cancel or reschedule a confirmed appointment with at least 24 hours notice and there is no charge — your deposit is refunded in full, or carried over to the new appointment. With less than 24 hours notice, the deposit is forfeited and nothing further is charged. If we arrive and the appointment cannot go ahead for reasons on your side — a signer who is absent, identification that is missing, required witnesses who are unavailable, or documents that are not ready — the deposit is forfeited and no additional fee applies. If we cancel for any reason on our side, your deposit is refunded in full.

No. Some documents require one or more witnesses in addition to notarization, and the client is responsible for arranging them. The notary also cannot serve as a witness to a document they are notarizing. Please confirm any witness requirements with whoever issued the document — usually an attorney, agency, or institution — before scheduling, so the appointment is not held up.

Yes. Massachusetts law prohibits a notary from charging a fee to notarize a signature on an absentee ballot identification envelope or other voting materials, or on any application or claim by a U.S. military veteran for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or other veterans' benefit (M.G.L. c. 222, § 23). We perform those notarial acts at no charge. If the appointment requires mobile travel, we will discuss any travel arrangement with you in advance, but there is no fee for the notarization itself.

Not at this time, and no Massachusetts notary can. Massachusetts authorized remote online notarization in a law passed in 2023, but notaries must first complete a training course approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and file a notification form with that office. The Secretary has not yet made either available and has advised notaries not to use remote platforms for now. Every appointment is therefore conducted in person. We will revisit this if the Commonwealth activates the program.

Yes. Evening appointments (after 5pm on weekdays) and weekend appointments (Saturday and Sunday) are available. These are priced at a premium above the standard weekday rate — $175 for evenings, $200 for weekends — as listed on our fees page.

Yes, unequivocally. Every client is served with equal respect, professionalism, and care. Parker Visual Notary Services is proudly LGBTQIA+ inclusive, and this commitment is not conditional or situational. All signers are welcomed without exception.

Yes. Parker Visual Notary Services and Parker Visual LLC do not discriminate in admission to, access to, or treatment in their services based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, deafness, blindness, physical or mental disability, ancestry, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status to the extent protected under applicable Massachusetts law. We are committed to respectful, professional, and equal service consistent with Massachusetts public accommodation protections.

Yes. Documents and personal information shared in connection with your appointment are handled with care and discretion. We do not sell your information, and we only share limited information with service providers when reasonably needed to operate the website, communicate with you, or deliver administrative services, or when disclosure is required by law. Documents are not retained beyond what is necessary for the immediate appointment. See our Policies and Privacy pages for full details.

The standard service area is the City of Boston and the Town of Brookline — travel anywhere within it is included in the base rate, with no additional travel charge. We also serve Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Watertown, Medford, Arlington, Belmont, Quincy, Dedham, Needham, and Waltham at the same base rates, with an extended travel fee of $1.50 per mile roundtrip measured beyond the Boston / Brookline boundary. Any travel fee is confirmed in writing before a deposit is taken, and the request form estimates which tier your address falls into as you type it. If your location is further out, reach out anyway — we can quote it individually.

It's a complimentary, non-legal procedural check included with every appointment. Before we arrive, we confirm that signers have valid ID, that all required parties will be present, and that documents appear complete for signing. This is an administrative service only — not a legal review or substitute for legal advice.

We accept payment by credit or debit card (via Square), cash, and certified bank checks or cashier's checks. We do not accept personal checks. Once we reach out to confirm a booking, a deposit is required to secure it — $50 for standard appointments and $100 for rush, after-hours, or higher-complexity appointments. Deposits are applied toward the final appointment total.