The Best Notary Public Near You

How to Become a Notary Public in Michigan

Becoming a Notary in Michigan requires applicants to complete the following steps:

1. Meet all qualifications under Michigan state law.

2. Get a $10,000 surety bond.

3. Complete the Application for Notary Public Commission.

4. Take your oath of office and file your bond.

5. Submit your application and $10 processing fee online or by mail.

6. Receive your commission card and wall certificate online.

If you are seeking to become a Notary Loan Signing Agent in Michigan it is strongly advised that you take additional training beyond the National Notary Association.

The National Notary Association helps to prepare Notaries on a very basic level. However, companies like Notary2Pro, NotaryStars, and NotaryAcademy are all very well poised to help Notary Loan Signing Agents learn the meaning of Loan Documents, How to Present Loan Documents, What You as a Notary Can Say About Loan Documents, and How to Execute Loan Documents. Ideally, the highest paid Loan Signing Agents will have taken all three of these courses and more.

Companies like Notary Stars can also help point you in the direction of additional reputable trainers within the industry who can also show you how to perform additional services like Permit Running, Apostille, Document Translations, Estate Planning, and more! These are additional sources of revenue that the National Notary Association does not cover.

About the Michigan Notary Process

A Michigan Notary commission is valid for six to seven years, ending on your birthday.

• If you were appointed before your birthday in that calendar year, your commission term will be six years from your birthday.

• If you were appointed after your birthday, your commission term will be seven years from your birthday.

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Cost to Become an MI Notary

The cost of becoming a Michigan Notary Public ranges between $70 to $80 depending on where you purchase your six-year surety bond and which county clerk you visit.

Commission Processing Time

Once you have purchased your bond and submitted your application, the process can take up to two weeks if you apply online or four to six weeks if you apply by mail.

Michigan Notary Public Requirements

Wondering what it takes to become a Notary in the Great Lake State? Read on below.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Notary commission in Michigan, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be a resident of or maintain a place of business in Michigan

• Be a U.S. citizen or possess proof of legal residence

• Be a resident of the county in which you request appointment (if you do not reside in Michigan, maintain a principal place of business in the county you request appointment)

• Be able to read and write English

• Be free of any felony convictions in the last 10 years (if previously convicted of a felony, the 10-year period includes completion of the sentence for that crime, any term of imprisonment, parole or probation, and payment of all fines, costs and assessments)

• Have not been convicted of two or more misdemeanor offenses involving a violation of the Michigan Notary Public Act within a 12-month period while commissioned, or three or more misdemeanor offenses involving a violation of this act within a five-year period regardless of being commissioned

• Have filed a surety bond in the amount of $10,000 with the appropriate county clerk and taken the oath of office as prescribed by the State Constitution (Michigan licensed attorneys are exempt)

• Have signed a declaration that all information on your application for a Michigan Notary Public Commission is correct, that you have read the Michigan Notary Public Act and that you will perform all notarial acts faithfully

In addition, any individual currently serving a term of imprisonment in any state, county or federal correctional facility is prohibited from being appointed or serving as a Notary Public.

Surety Bond

Michigan requires a Notary Public to hold a $10,000 surety bond from a surety company licensed to do business in the state.

Application

Complete the Application for Notary Public Commission and submit the form with the $10 processing fee online or by mail. Your name and address must match your ID exactly to avoid processing delays.

Oath of Office

Go to your county clerk to take your oath of office and file your bond.

Attorneys licensed in the state of Michigan are not required to file a bond.

What state government office handles Notaries?

The Department of State, located in Lansing, MI, is responsible for commissioning Notaries Public in Michigan.

Office of the Great Seal

7064 Crowner Drive

Lansing, MI 48918

Is training or an exam required to become a Notary?

No exam or training is required, but the Michigan Department of State does require that every Notary read the Michigan Notary Public Act prior to performing as a Notary.

What kind of supplies will I need?

Using an official Notary seal and Notary journal is not required in Michigan, but using both tools is strongly recommended. If you’re performing electronic online notarizations, you must maintain a Notary journal.

If you choose to use a journal, the Michigan Notary Public Act requires those records to be kept for at least five years.

Do I need insurance?

Errors and insurance (E&O) insurance is not required for Michigan Notaries, although you have the option of purchasing a policy.

Where will I be able to notarize?

Michigan Notaries can perform notarizations anywhere within the state. When notarizing documents, include:

• Your name as it appears on your Notary Public certificate

• “Notary Public, State of Michigan, County of ____________ (name of county)”

• Commission expiration date

• Date of notarial act

• "Acting in the County of ____________ (county where the notarial act was performed)" if you notarize in a MI county other than the county of commissioning

Who can I notarize for?

You can notarize for any member of the public who makes a reasonable request and meets all requirements for notarization such as personally appearing before you and providing satisfactory proof of identity.

You cannot notarize your own signature or perform a notarization if you have a conflict of interest. You're also prohibited from performing notarial acts for a direct lineal ancestor or descendant family member, including in-laws, stepsiblings and half siblings.

How much can MI Notaries charge per notarization?

The Department of State authorizes Notaries to charge up to $10 per notarial act.

An additional travel fee may be charged but must be agreed upon between the Notary and signer in advance.

What should I do if I move or change my name?

If you change your address (residence or business) or name during your commission, notify the Office of the Great Seal immediately and submit a Request for Duplicate/Notice of Change form.

There is no fee to change your information.

How do I renew my Notary commission in Michigan?

Notary commissions are not automatically renewed, so you'll need to meet the state's requirements and reapply for a new commission.

If you don't have any gaps in your commission dates, you must renew within 60 days of your current expiration date.

How do I become an electronic Notary in Michigan?

The process to become an electronic Notary in Michigan is simple.

1. Get your commission as a traditional Notary Public or apply for one at the same time.

2. Contract with an electronic notarization platform from the state's list of approved vendors.

3. Complete the Request for Duplicate/Notice of Change form if you're currently a Notary, or the Notary Application and Instructions form if you're a new or renewing applicant, and provide the required information about your chosen vendor.

As soon as your information is on file with the Department of State, you may begin performing eNotarizations.

What do I need to know about remote online notarization in Michigan?

As of September 26, 2018, Michigan Notaries may register to perform remote online notarizations. Once you receive your commission, you can follow the steps in this guide to become an MI remote Notary.