A bedside signing in Dracut.
A Dracut family needed a healthcare proxy and durable power of attorney signed for their mother who could not travel. We arrived the same day. Here is exactly how it worked.
The family needed help that day.
Emily called on a Tuesday morning. Her mother had been moved to home hospice care over the weekend. The family needed a Massachusetts Health Care Proxy and a Durable Power of Attorney signed before the end of the day so their mother’s wishes could be honored if her condition changed overnight.
Driving to a notary office was not possible. Their mother could not leave the house. The family was stretched thin between caregiving, travel arrangements for relatives, and conversations with hospice nurses. They needed someone to come to them, with everything ready, and handle the visit with care.
My mom couldn’t leave the house and we needed a healthcare proxy notarized. Hanson came right to us in Dracut, explained the whole process and made my mother feel at ease.Emily C., Dracut, MA
What we brought to the Dracut visit.
A bedside notary visit is different from an office appointment. The principal may be tired, in pain, or anxious. The notary’s job is to verify identity and witness signing, but the way it is done matters. We came prepared to keep the visit short, calm and complete.
Massachusetts requires two witnesses for a Health Care Proxy. We brought one of our own and worked with the family to identify a second adult who was not a beneficiary or healthcare provider, both of which are state requirements.
- Notary commission seal and journal for proper Massachusetts attestation and recordkeeping.
- Two witnesses on site: Hanson plus a second adult who met state requirements.
- Two blank Massachusetts Health Care Proxy forms in case of a clerical mistake during signing.
- Photo ID verification process ready for the principal, with backup ID options if her primary ID was unavailable.
- A quiet, patient pace adapted to the principal’s energy level. No rush, no pressure, no extra noise.
The visit lasted 28 minutes. Here is what happened.
Arrival and introductions
Hanson arrived at the home in North Dracut just after 1:00 PM. He introduced himself to Emily and her mother, set up his notary journal at a clean side table, and explained what would happen in plain language so the principal understood every step.
Identity verification
Hanson reviewed the principal’s Massachusetts driver’s license, confirmed the name on the document matched, and recorded the ID details in the notary journal as required by state law. He asked the principal a few simple questions to confirm she understood she was signing voluntarily and was of sound mind.
Document review and signing
The Health Care Proxy was reviewed line by line. Emily explained who the proxy agent would be. The principal signed both documents at her own pace. The two witnesses signed where required. Hanson then completed his notarial certificate, applied the seal, and stamped each signature page.
Finalization and handoff
Hanson recorded the completed notarization in his journal, gave the family clean originals plus an extra copy of the HCP for the hospice team, and walked Emily through next steps for filing the POA with the bank and the proxy with the primary care physician.
Verify our claims. Trust the sources.
If you want to verify the requirements we follow on every visit, here are the primary sources for Massachusetts notary public law and procedure.
Massachusetts Secretary of State
Official Notary Public division with state-set fee schedules, commission requirements, and apostille service information.
Visit official site → StatuteMass. General Laws Chapter 222
The full Massachusetts General Laws governing notaries public, executive order standards, and notarial certificate language.
Read the statute → FormMA Health Care Proxy Form
The official Massachusetts Health Care Proxy form and instructions from Mass.gov, including witness eligibility rules.
Download the form → EducationNational Notary Association
Best practice standards, ongoing notary education, and continuing certification for notaries public across the United States.
Learn more →Documents in hand the same afternoon.
By 1:30 PM the family had a properly executed Health Care Proxy and a notarized Durable Power of Attorney. The hospice team received their copy that evening. Emily’s mother passed peacefully four days later, with her wishes respected and her family free to focus on her instead of paperwork.
The total cost matched the flat-rate written quote provided before dispatch. Today, mobile visits run $125 to $278 depending on zone. Cash, check, Zelle and Venmo were accepted on site.
If you need someone reliable, professional and human at a hard moment, Hanson is the call to make.Emily C., Dracut, MA · 5 stars
Same-day mobile notary visits across the Merrimack Valley.
Tewksbury, Lowell, Andover, Dracut, Billerica, Chelmsford, Wilmington, Woburn. Book online or call. Most visits scheduled within 2 to 4 hours.
Direct line: 978-851-0199