Massachusetts Securities Division relaxes notarization and signature requirements for certain filings

State Issues Covid-19 Massachusetts Securities Notary E-Signature

On March 24, the Massachusetts Securities Division issued an Emergency Notice giving temporary relief from certain filing requirements for corporate finance filings and financial professional registrations during the Covid-19 outbreaks. The Division will not require manual signatures or notarizations for securities registration applications, exemption filings, securities notice filings, and consent to service of process forms and will accept e-signatures and copies of signed documents where required. The Division will also permit electronic submission of Forms U4 without physical signatures from individual agents or investment advisor representatives, provided that certain requirements are met, and will accept alternatives to a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information acknowledgment form. Finally, the Division will allow investment advisers up to 45 additional days to perform any Form ADV filing, updating, or customer delivery requirements. This guidance will remain in effect until April 30, unless extended or rescinded.