What does Massachusetts call proof of service?
Return or affidavit
Document Guides
Massachusetts proof of service
Constables were brought into the affidavit path. Self-help instructions that say pains and penalties of perjury match section 1A. They are not a separate notarization statute.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does Massachusetts use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Return or affidavit. Constables were brought into the affidavit path. Self-help instructions that say pains and penalties of perjury match section 1A. They are not a separate notarization statute.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Return or affidavit |
| Private server | Affidavit, including constables |
| Officer | Sheriff, deputy, or special sheriff return |
| Traditional notary explicit? | No |
| Perjury alternative? | Yes, § 1A |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
Massachusetts proof is controlled, for this guide, by Mass. R. Civ. P. 4(f); G.L. c. 268, § 1A. Constables were brought into the affidavit path. Self-help instructions that say pains and penalties of perjury match section 1A. They are not a separate notarization statute.
No single effective date is stored beyond the source that was reviewed on October 7, 2026.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Return or affidavit. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit admin officer not specified.
Private process server
Any other person, including a constable, files an affidavit. General Laws chapter 268, section 1A, allows that written statement under the penalties of perjury without a magistrate.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff, deputy sheriff, or special sheriff files a return.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The controlling proof sentence reviewed here does not name a notary or other oath officer.
A penalty-of-perjury or unsworn-declaration alternative is part of the official path.
When a different kind of process uses different proof
out of state: Out-of-state proof may follow Massachusetts law or the law of the place of service.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to Massachusetts
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff, deputy sheriff, or special sheriff files a return.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
Yes, on the path described on this page.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 4(opens in a new tab)
Massachusetts
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.