Document Updates: Notary Block on Massachusetts Security Instruments (Cx328, Cx486, Cx1332, and Cx19379)

A memorandum issued on February 4 2021 by the Chief Title Examiner from the Massachusetts Land Court says that:

“…acknowledged documents used in connection with the conveyance of registered land in Massachusetts – whether notarized within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or another state – must use a form of acknowledgment that conforms substantially with the statutory form language set forth in c. 222 § 15(b), which includes an acknowledgment that the document was signed voluntarily for its stated purpose.”

Accordingly, we are updating the notary blocks on our Massachusetts Security Instruments to use the General notary block language provided in Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 222, § 15, if the property is registered land. The logic on the documents will now print the General MA notary block if 120374 “Property Includes Registered Land” = ‘Yes’ OR new field 143245 “Notary Block Model Language” is NOT ‘Real Property’. Otherwise, we will continue to print the property statute notary block as found in Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 183, App., Form (13) (the ‘Real Property’ language). The documents modified include the following:

• MA Mortgage (Cx328)
• MA Mortgage Second (Cx486)
• HELOC Mortgage – MA (Cx1332)
• FHA MA Mortgage (Cx19379)

These changes will be in effect on March 9, 2021. Questions or concerns about these changes may be directed towards Client Support at 1.800.496.3584.

DR 338573