The Town of Williamstown offers free notary public services as a convenience to residents and the public. Notaries are available during regular Town Hall hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, depending on staff availability. Please call ahead to confirm a notary will be available when you plan to visit.
Town Notaries
- Nicole E. Beverly, Town Clerk, Town Clerk’s Office, 31 North Street, 413-217-0356
- The Milne Public Library also has a notary on staff. Please see their separate Notary Public information page on the library website.
Documents We Can Notarize
Town notaries can notarize many routine documents, such as affidavits, sworn statements, retirement beneficiary forms, general letters, and Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) forms.
Not sure what type of notarization your document needs? Check with the person or organization that gave it to you. Our notaries cannot advise you on this.
Documents We Do Not Notarize
Because these documents carry significant legal and financial consequences, the Town does not notarize:
- Real estate documents, including deeds, mortgages, refinancing, easements, and closing documents
- Wills, codicils, and trusts (including amendments)
- Living wills, advance directives, and health care proxies
- Powers of attorney of any kind
- Other estate planning or probate documents
For these documents, we recommend contacting an attorney, title company, your bank, or a private notary.
We also cannot notarize copies of vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates. If the record was filed in Williamstown, the Town Clerk’s Office can issue a certified copy.
Language Requirements
Massachusetts law requires the notary and the signer to be able to communicate directly with each other. Town notaries can only notarize documents written in English.
One exception: A notary can certify that a photocopy is a true copy of an original document in any language. This certification confirms only that the copy matches the original, not what the document says.
What to Bring
- Your complete document, with all pages. Do not sign or date it until you are in front of the notary.
- A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID for each signer.
- Every person who needs to sign, since all signers must be present.
- Any required witnesses. The Town does not provide witnesses, so you will need to bring your own, and they must be present.
When a Notary May Decline
A notary will not complete a notarization if:
- A signer is not present or cannot provide acceptable ID
- The document is incomplete or has blank spaces
- The signer appears not to understand the document or to be signing under pressure
- The document is on the excluded list above
- Anything about the request raises questions about its authenticity or legality
What a Notary Does and Doesn't Do
A notary confirms the identity of the person signing and witnesses the signature. A notary cannot review your document, tell you whether it is legally valid, help prepare it, or give legal advice.
Questions?
If you’re not sure whether your document qualifies, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 413-217-0356 before your visit.